Nurses all for better staffing in Nevada hospitals

Nurses in Nevada want lawmakers to require better staffing in hospitals. They say more nurses are needed to provide safe care. Hospitals across the state warn that if these rules are put in place, it could harm access to healthcare services.

Nurses speak out

Nurses from SEIU Local 1107 talked to lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. They want Senate Bill 182 to become law. This bill would set required staffing levels, just like in California and Oregon. It would set rules about how many patients one nurse can care for during a shift.

Jodi Domineck, a nurse in Las Vegas, shared her concerns. “I’ve had more patients than I thought was safe,” she said. “When we have too many patients, it puts my license at risk.” She explained that if something happens to a patient, it could hurt both the patient’s safety and the nurse’s career.

Jodi said there were times when nurses had 10 patients on some units. That means only six minutes per patient each hour. In such a short time, nurses might miss signs of complications or not be able to teach patients properly. Nurses may also not have time to offer emotional support.

Nurses share their struggles

Many nurses also shared their struggles. They said that with better staffing, they would return to working at the bedside. They believe that better workplace standards would help improve care for patients.

Hospitals respond

The Nevada Hospital Association disagrees with the proposed bill. They say it could harm the healthcare system in the state. They believe the bill would burden healthcare workers and limit access to care for patients.

Patrick Kelly from the association said the state would need 1,498 more nurses to meet the mandate. He also pointed out that the bill doesn’t account for emergencies, like when many patients suddenly need care at the same time.

“If we reach the staffing limit, we may have to send some patients to other hospitals,” Kelly explained. “In some cases, a mother might have to deliver in the emergency room, and that’s not ideal.”

Staffing challenges in Nevada

Jeanne Reeves, the chief nursing officer at Summerlin Hospital, raised concerns about Nevada’s nursing schools. She said there aren’t enough nursing graduates to fill the demand for nurses.

Summerlin Hospital is the only one in Las Vegas that provides pediatric oncology services. Jeanne warned that staffing rules could put these services at risk. “It could force us to close some beds or even the service,” she said.

Senator Nguyen gave a statement to FOX5. She said, “Ensuring Nevadans have safe access to quality healthcare is critical. We will continue to work with everyone to create a solution that is best for everyone.”