(SACRAMENTO)- Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) has introduced Assembly Bill 1102 which would prohibit a hospital from retaliating against nurses who refuse to violate mandated nurse-to-patient safety ratios. Often times, nurses are asked to accept staffing assignments that would force them to go over the acceptable ratio which places nurses and patient at risk. While this practice also puts Registered Nurses in jeopardy of losing their license, it means patients are not receiving the proper medical attention they deserve.
“With all of the uncertainty around healthcare in the United States right now, there are steps we can take in California to ensure that patients receive the safest care possible,” Rodriguez said. “Patient safety in California should not be compromised. As an Emergency Medical Technician for over 30 years, I have seen first-hand how critical an appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is to the delivery of quality care.”
This legislation extends existing healthcare worker whistleblower protections to nurses who are asked by their employees to violate nurse staffing ratio laws. AB 1102 would mean nurses are taken out of the position of having to choose between the safety of their patients and losing their license.