LANSING, MI-- The state House Health Policy Committee heard testimony Wednesday on bills sponsors say would increase patient safety in Michigan hospitals.
The Safe Patient Care Act consists of three bills. One establishes limits on the number of patients a nurse can be assigned. Another caps the number of hours a nurse can work consecutively to 12, with exceptions for special circumstances. The third bill would require hospitals to reveal their RN-to-staff ratios.
More than 70 registered nurses from around Michigan, including Marquette, attended the hearing. UPHS-Marquette nurses went on a 48-hour strike over those same issues in October.
Bargaining sessions with hospital administration will be held Thursday and next month.