An issue that's been at the center of massive nursing strikes in the state is finally getting taken up in the legislature.

Lawmakers today heard testimony on a controversial bill that will set limits for nurse to patient ratios.

The proposal was first introduced 16 years ago and would codify into law how many patients a nurse can care for at most medical centers in the state.

Many nurses unions are backing the legislation as essential for protecting both workers and patients.

But as health care writer Lilo Stainton tells us, hospitals fear it's an impossible standard to meet.

She joins me with the latest.

Lilo, this is an issue that has been in the spotlight really because of these strikes that have been going on.

But what's the proposal that legislators are considering today?

What are the nuts and bolts of it?

Right.

So the nuts and bolts are it would take a concept that nurses or at least many nurses in labor unions feel is extremely important to patient safety and codify it in law.

And it involves specific ratios for each different units of the hospital.

And in this case, in this legislation, also behavioral health facilities, state hospitals, all kinds of places include.

So ambulatory care, so outpatient care and literally put down in the law.

You know, you need 1 to 1 in this situation.

Anesthesia.

You need 1 to 2 in neonatal care.

You need 1 to 5 in med surge, which is your general hospital and so on and so forth.

So considering the fact that this has been an argument for many years and of course reached a peak during the pandemic and after nursing homes are now being held to this standard, why are lawmakers just now considering this bill?

Right.

So like you say, this has been around as long as I've been doing this work almost you know, the bill goes back to at least 2008.

But there has been always this push back from the hospital industry or nursing home industry that, you know, we can't afford this.

And and it's impossible also because there's always a shortage of nurses.

And that's a real concern.

What's bringing it to the forefront now is, I think, the strikes I mean, I spoke to Senator Vitale or Vitale earlier today, and he said, you know, that really did put a spotlight on this or as others have said.

And, you know, he also said that it showed that while the bill is not up for a vote today, it's just up for discussion.

Vitale said to me, it shows that there is a possible way to do this right, that one of the key points that that strike was settled over was a staffing agreement that apparently is codified somehow in the contract and has, you know, the nurses are comfortable with it, They're pleased with it.

The hospital is willing to do it.

So Vitale's point is, there is a way forward here.

There is.

It may not look exactly like this for all hospitals, but they showed this being a major, major hospital in central New Jersey.

They showed this is possible.

Well, you mentioned that some hospitals have been against it, but also correct me if I'm wrong, there have been some nurses unions that have said, you know, we need some flexibility here when staffing is needed in other departments.

We we don't want to be held to these numbers.

Also, there are, you know, folks with seniority who can handle more patients than, say, a junior nurse.

Yes, there is that argument.

And it is true, not all nurses are on board with this concept.

You know, it is it is definitely there is a question of how do you rank people down there?

But then there is the pushback is, well, hospitals or you know, the institutions tend to count people who are essentially doing secretarial or other administrative duties.

And, you know, as a nurse, when that person may have a degree but isn't functioning as a nurse.

So, you know, the point is, if everybody did this the way they should, we wouldn't need the law, I guess, is the argument.

Yeah.

So here we are.

You know, will it will it get a vote soon?

I think that's still TBD, but it'll be an interesting discussion for.

A problem That's not going away for sure.

Lilo Stainton, thank you so much.

Thanks Bri.