Nurse Ratios Stir Debate
Bill filed to counter Howard's RN proposal
By Lee Nichols, Fri., March 13, 2009
The NNOC also took a swipe at Austin Rep. Donna Howard's HB 591, which would elevate the role of nurses in staffing decisions but not mandate ratios, saying in a press release, "The Texas Hospital Association has proposed legislation to block safe RN-to-patient ratios." Replied Howard: "The NNOC's statement is not accurate." Noting that the NNOC urged the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to add language it believed would strengthen HB 591, Howard said the political reality is her bill may be too strong for the business-loving Lege – instead of adopting the NNOC's language, the committee discussed removing whistle-blower protections.
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