Nevada nurses advocate for Senate Bill 182 to ensure safe staffing ratios

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened on March 6, 2025, to discuss Senate Bill 182, which aims to establish safe staffing ratios for nurses in Nevada. The meeting featured passionate testimonies from healthcare professionals advocating for the bill, emphasizing the critical need for adequate staffing to ensure patient safety and improve care quality.

Several nurses shared personal experiences highlighting the challenges posed by current staffing levels. Susie Martinez, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, stressed that safe staffing saves lives and prevents nurse burnout. She urged the committee to support the bill, noting that inadequate staffing compromises patient care. Similarly, Michelle Mayese, president of SEIU Local 1107, argued that the issue is not a nursing shortage but rather a lack of respect and safety for nurses. She called for legislative action to improve working conditions and retain nursing staff.

Catherine De Maia, a registered nurse, recounted her decision to leave bedside nursing due to unsafe staffing ratios, which she claimed led to preventable patient suffering and loss. She expressed hope that the passage of SB 182 would encourage nurses to return to the profession, ensuring better care for patients.

The testimonies underscored the importance of appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios, with acute care nurse practitioner Geo Hughes explaining that such ratios are essential for monitoring patients effectively, especially in critical care settings. He emphasized that quality of care should take precedence over quantity.

The meeting also included opposition testimony from Patrick Kelly of the Nevada Hospital Association, who cited concerns about the existing nursing shortage and the potential impact of the bill on healthcare facilities.

The discussions highlighted a growing consensus among healthcare workers on the necessity of safe staffing ratios to enhance patient care and support nurses in their demanding roles. The committee's decision on SB 182 could significantly influence the future of nursing practices and patient safety standards in Nevada.