RESOLUTION #
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TOPIC:
IN SUPPORT OF NURSE CONTROL OF NURSING STAFFING IN
THE STATE OF GEORIGA
SUBMITTED BY:
MACON STATE COLLEGE ASSOCIATION OF NURSING
STUDENTS
AUTHOR:
JORDAN KLEIN
WHEREAS, “Findings indicate that nurses who work in non-day shifts are at higher risk for
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occupational injury and illness, and the more frequently a nurse works mandatory
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or unplanned overtime, the greater the odds of experiencing a work-related injury
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or illness, and missing work because of it”(Fujishiro, et al., 2010); and
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WHEREAS, In a survey conducted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) of almost
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220,000 RNs it was reported that: “54% of nurses in adult medical units and
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emergency rooms do not have sufficient time with patients; overtime has
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increased during the past year with 43% of all RNs working extra hours because
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the unit is short staffed or busy; and that inadequate staffing affected unit
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admissions, transfers and discharges more than 20% of the time” (2011); and
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WHEREAS, “Each additional patient care RN employed (at 7.8 hours per patient day) will
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generate over $60,000 annually in reduced medical costs and improved national
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productivity” (ANA 2011); and
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WHEREAS, “The ANA supports a legislative model in which nurses are empowered to create
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staffing plans specific to the unit and patient population and to which healthcare
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facilities are held accountable” (ANA 2011); and
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WHEREAS, “fifteen states, plus the District of Columbia* enacted legislation and/or adopted
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regulations to address nurse staffing: CA, CT, IL, ME, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC,
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OH, OR, RI, TX, VT, and WA” (ANA 2011); therefore be it
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RESOLVED, that the Georgia Association of Nursing Students to support the American Nurses
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Association’s recommendation for “a legislative model in which nurses are
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empowered to create staffing plans specific to the unit and patient population and
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to which healthcare facilities are held accountable in all states”; and be it further
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RESOLVED, that an article be printed in an issue of the EKG newsletter if feasible; and be it
further
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RESOLVED, that GANS send a copy of this resolution to the ANA, GNA (Georgia Nurses
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Association), state senators, and all others deemed appropriate by the GANS
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Board.