FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2021
For more information: Kristi Barnes | kristi.barnes@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
Carl Ginsberg | carl.ginsburg@nysna.org | 917-405-1060
NY State Assembly Health Committee to Discuss Safe Staffing Legislation for Hospitals and Nursing Homes
New York – The investigation and report release, Nursing Homes’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, by the office of Attorney General Tish James, drew attention to deadly understaffing in the state’s nursing homes. The central finding and core recommendation of the AG’s report is that poor staffing was a major factor in the high death toll in nursing homes, and that New York must enact enforceable, minimum staffing ratios or hours of care per resident.
Tomorrow, state legislators are coming together to discuss the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act (A108/S1168), which would do just that. The bill would require minimum RN, LPN and Aide staffing hours for nursing home residents and minimum safe staffing guidelines in our hospitals.
WHAT: New York State Assembly Health Committee Hearing
WHEN: Tuesday, February 2 at 9:00 AM
WHERE: Streaming live at https://nyassembly.gov/av/live/
NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the tragedy of understaffing in healthcare. We must address chronic understaffing in hospitals and nursing homes to prevent more deaths and to eliminate persistent healthcare disparities. The time for safe staffing is now.”
NYSNA’s full position statement on the Attorney Generals’ report can be found HERE.
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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.
