The proposed Patient Protection Act, which is modeled on a California law, would require hospitals to maintain a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio that differs depending on the department, according to the report. The bill would require a minimum 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio in a pediatrics unit and a 1:1 ratio in the operating room. Nursing unions support the bill, saying it would ensure hospitals maintain staffing levels that are necessary for patient safety, according to the report.
The bill has been assigned to a committee but does not have scheduled hearings yet, according to the report.
The District of Columbia Hospital Association is supporting a different bill that is similar to the Patient Protection Act but does not include the nurse staffing ratio requirement, according to the report.
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