Hospital Nurses Caring for Dangerous Number of Patients, Survey Shows; First National Survey to Reveal Actual Staffing Levels

5/1/2003

From: Janet Bass of AFT Healthcare, 202-879-4554

News Advisory:

The first national survey to document patient-to-nurse staffing levels, to be released on May 5, will show that more than two-thirds of hospital nurses on medical/surgical floors typically care more than five patients during a shift. This is a patient load that research has concluded increases significantly the likelihood of patient deaths.

"The staffing situation has gone from stable to critical and is becoming grave," Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers and its healthcare division, AFT Healthcare.

The AFT Healthcare survey, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, is being released on the first annual "Patient Care Day," as part of a national "Set Limits - Save Lives" campaign. AFT Healthcare nurses and other healthcare workers are holding events on May 5 and during the week in Washington and across the country to urge lawmakers and hospitals to set safe staffing limits.

WHAT: News Conference on Survey Results and Recommendations

WHEN: Monday, May 5, 12 noon

WHERE: AFT - 555 New Jersey Ave., NW 9th Floor Conference Room Washington, D.C.

WHO: -- Sandra Feldman, President, AFT/AFT Healthcare -- Guy Molyneux, Peter D. Hart Research Associates -- Two RNs from Vermont to discuss what happens when nurses have too many patients.