Long hours, more patients, and little money are causing nurses to stand behind new legislation. They want changes to happen quickly, or healthcare statewide will continue to suffer.
Nurses say the shortage in their profession is taking a toll on healthcare. They're hoping new legislation will ease some of their concerns. The president of the Michigan Nurses Association says patient health is suffering due to the long hours nurses are forced to work.
State Senator Bruce Patterson is introducing new Safe Patient Care Legislation that would eliminate mandatory overtime and establish a minimum nurse to patient staffing ratio.
Nurses say they need to elevate their professional status in order to recruit more nurses. They say that includes making more money.
According to the Michigan Nurses Association, the ideal patient to nurse ratio is a general medical surgical area is four to one.
