Nevada nurses advocate for staffing ratios to improve patient care and prevent burnout

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened on March 6, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding hospital staffing and patient care in Nevada. The meeting focused on Senate Bill 182 (SB 182), which aims to establish safe nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals to enhance patient care and improve working conditions for nurses.

The session began with an overview of SB 182, emphasizing the importance of maintaining optimal nurse staffing levels to prevent adverse patient outcomes. It was highlighted that research indicates that each additional patient assigned to a registered nurse increases the risk of preventable deaths, longer hospital stays, and readmissions. The bill seeks to ensure that patients receive the care they deserve while also addressing the challenging working conditions faced by hospital staff.

Registered nurses Jody Dominic and Liz Bullhouse provided testimony on the current state of hospital working conditions. Bullhouse, representing approximately 1,800 nurses at a public hospital in Las Vegas, shared her experiences and the emotional toll that excessive patient loads take on nurses. She noted that many nurses are leaving the profession due to burnout and the inability to provide adequate care, with statistics showing that 33% of new nurses leave their jobs within the first year.

Dominic echoed these sentiments, detailing the struggles nurses face when assigned too many patients. She explained that the time available for each patient diminishes significantly when nurses are overburdened, leading to a decline in the quality of care. The testimony underscored the moral injury nurses experience when they cannot meet the high standards of care they strive for.

The discussion also touched on the Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) forms, which nurses fill out when they believe their patient assignments exceed safe limits. Over 6,000 ADO forms have been submitted in just two hospitals in Nevada over the past four years, indicating a systemic issue with staffing levels. The committee was urged to consider the implications of inadequate staffing not only on patient safety but also on the well-being of nurses.

The meeting concluded with a call for action to support SB 182, emphasizing that establishing safe staffing ratios is essential for protecting both patients and healthcare providers. The committee acknowledged the need for further discussions and potential follow-up actions to address these pressing issues in Nevada's healthcare system.