HomeMy Public PortalAboutr 24-017Yveorlinflon of #4e Poxoug4 of Tar exef, N51
#24-17
Date of Adoption January 11
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
ASSEMBLY BILL A-4536 / SENATE BILL S-304
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill No. 4536/Senate Bill No. 5304 would establish minimum
registered professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery
facilities and certain DHS facilities; and
WHEREAS, because of recent changes in the health care delivery system, patients in
general and special hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities it) the State, and in State
developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals, generally have higher acuity levels than
in the past; and
WHEREAS, recent studies demonstrate the link between adequate registered
professional nurse staffing and improved mortality rates and quality of care among
patients in health care facilities; and
WHEREAS, inadequate nurse staffing can result in dangerous medical errors, patient
infections, and increased injuries to patients and caregivers; and
WHEREAS, inadequate and poorly monitored nurse still'1mg practices jeopardize the
delivery of health care services and adversely impact the health of patients; and
WHEREAS, the establislmtent of staffing standards for registered professional muses in
hospitals, ambulatorysurgeryfacilities, and State developmental centers and psychiatric
hospitals should not be construed as justifying understaffrng will)respectto other critical
health care workers; safe staffing practices recognize the importance of all health care
workers in providing quality patient care because the availability of these other health
care workers enables registered professional nurses to focus on the nursing care functions
that only these nurses, by law, are permitted to perform; and
WHEREAS, understaffing at hospitals, ambulatory surgery facilities, and State
developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals has been demonstrated to be an
underlying cause of the current nursing shortage, because. higher patient assignments
create higher levels of job dissatisfaction, burnout, and turnover rates among nurses; laid
WHEREAS, in addition to staffing requirements provided by law or regulation on the
effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Health shall adopt regulations that provide
minimum direct care registered professional nurse-to-paliem staffing ratios for all patient
units in general and special hospitals, State psychiatric hospitals, and ambulatory surgical
facilities in accordance with the requirements of this act. The regulations shall not
decrease any nurse -to -patient staffing ratios in effect on the effective date of this act; and
WHEREAS, the regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall, at a minimum,
provide for the following nurse -to -patient ratios:
1. one registered professional nurse for every five patients on a medical/surgical
unit;
2. one registered professional nurse for every four patients in a step dmvn, telemetry,
or intermediate care unit;
3. one registered professional 'nurse for every four patients in an emergency
department, one registered professional nurse for ci cry two patients in a critical
care service of air emergency department, and one registered professional nurse
for every patient in it trauma service of an emergency department;
4. one registered professional nurse for every five paticu(s in a behavioral health or
psychiatric unit;
5. one registered professional nurse for every two patients in a critical care, intensive
care, neonatal, or burn unit;
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6. one registered professional nurse for every palicnt tinder anesthesia in an
operating room, and one registered professional nurse for every two post -
anesthesia patients in a recovery room or post-anestlesia care unit;
7. one registered professional nurse for every two patients in a labor and delivery
unit; one registered professional nurse for every four patients, including infants, in
a postpartum unit in which the mother and infant share the same room; and one
registered professional nurse for every six patients in a mothers -only unit; and
8. one registered professional nurse for every four patients in a pediatric or
intermediate care nursery unit, and one registered professional nurse for every six
patients in a well -baby nursery.
WHEREAS, the Borough of Carteret wishes to urge State lawmakers to adopt Assembly
Bill No. 4536/Senate Bill No. S304, which would establish minimum registered
professional nurse staffing standards for hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities and
certain DHS facilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Maym and Council of the Borough
of Carteret as follows:
I. The Borough of Carteret hereby urges its elected representatives in the New
Jersey State Legislature to adopt Assembly Bill No. 4536/Senate Bill No. S304.
2. The Borough of Carteret tbanks Senator Joseph Vitale for being the primary
sponsor of Bill S304.
3. The Borough of Carteret urges Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez to co-sponsor
A4536 and Senator Joseph Vitale to hold a Health. Human Set -vices and Senior
Citizen committee hearing on S304.
4. A copy of this Resolution upon its adoption shall be furnished to current
Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Assemblyman Craig Coughlin and Senator
Joseph Vitale,
5. A copy of this Resolution upon its adoption shall also be furnished to the
Governor of the State of New Jersey.
Adopted this 18d' day of January, 2024
and certified as a true copy of the
original on January 19, 2024.
CARMELAPOGORZELSKI,
Municipal Clerk
RECORD OF COUNCIL VOTE
COUNCILMAN
YES
NO
NV
A.B.
COUNCILMAN
YES
NO
NV
A.D.
BELLING
'X
JORAL
X
DIAZ
X
KRUM
DIMASCIO
X
NAPLES
X-Indicate Vote AD -Absent NV -Not Voting XOR- Indicates Vote to Overrate Veto
Adopted at a meeting of the Municipal Council
f� January 18 2024
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