The Protest of Assignment started to take shape in 1982. It dovetailed with a classification system for acuities. There was testimony before the New York City Council. Reliability and validity tools were added to the patient classification system and refinements continued. Within NYSNA, the “POA” form came into being in the early ’90s. During that decade, a ratio standard was set for RNs on an ER shift.

“Today’s POA gives you a beginning framework for legal protection. But you need a reliable and valid tool to set what staffing should be.” - Anne Bové, RN, President, NYSNA’s HHC/Mayorals Executive Council