Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act
To discuss the change, it is recommended to study the exact wording of the act. The text of the act is found on the U.S. Congress official website, and it is formulated as follows:
Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2013 – Amends Title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require each Medicare participating hospital to implement a hospital-wide staffing plan for nursing services furnished in the hospital.
Requires the plan to require that an appropriate number of registered nurses provide direct patient care in each unit and on each shift of the hospital to ensure staffing levels that: (1) address the unique characteristics of the patients and hospital units; and (2) result in the delivery of safe, quality patient care consistent with specified requirements.
Requires each participating hospital to establish a hospital nurse staffing committee which shall implement such plan.
Specifies civil monetary and other penalties for violation of the requirements of this Act.
Sets forth whistleblower protections against discrimination and retaliation involving patients or employees of the hospital for their grievances, complaints, or involvement in investigations relating to such plan.
