By Bob Katzen

This bill limits how many patients can be assigned to each registered nurse in Massachusetts hospitals and certain other healthcare facilities. The maximum number of patients per registered nurse would vary by type of unit and level of care. Sponsors say they dropped off more than 100,000 signatures.

“Nurses are tasked with addressing life or death scenarios every single day, and are the critical line of defense protecting your loved ones,” said Jeffrey Crosby of the Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care. “There are safe staffing limits for so many other fields, like daycare providers and children, pharmacists and support staff, nursing home care providers and residents. Study after study after study shows that safe staffing limits are a no-brainer.”