LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Nevada nurses are asking lawmakers to require better staffing levels in crucial hospital units, while hospitals across the state warn of risks to services and access if mandates are in place.

Nurses in SEIU Local 1107 spoke before lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, calling for recommended staffing ratios to become state law in Senate Bill 182, following in the footsteps of California and Oregon.

The mandates would dictate nurse-to-patient ratios: how many patients a nurse can have during any given shift.

“I’ve worked shifts where I’ve had more [patients] than I thought was safe,” said Jodi Domineck, a nurse in the Las Vegas Valley who has done clinicals at different hospitals and represents nurses across the union with similar concerns. “When you have too many patients, we’re still held to that high standard for our license… and if something happens to your patient, it puts your license at risk, not only the patients’ safety,” she said.

“There were times when nurses had 10 patients on certain units, and 10 patients with 60 minutes in an hour– that’s 6 minutes per patient,” Domineck said. In that short window, nurses may not be able to detect complications, instruct a patient on proper self-care or self-medication, or provide a moment of care or support, she said.

Numerous nurses also submitted testimony of their challenges on the job with a lack of staffing; advocates maintain that many nurses would return to the hospital bedside if there were better workplace standards.

The Nevada Hospital Association wrote a letter in opposition: “This legislation poses significant risks to our healthcare delivery system, burdens a variety of other healthcare providers, and, most importantly, threatens to harm access to care for Nevadans,” it read.

The state would need 1,498 nurses to meet the need for staffing mandates, according to Patrick Kelly of the Association. The bill doesn’t accommodate a sudden influx of patients, or unexpected scenarios, like patients suddenly going into labor.

“If all of a sudden, our nurses are at the maximum. you’re going to have to send that mother to another hospital, or they’re going to deliver in the emergency room — which is not a good alternative,” Kelly said.

Jeanne Reeves, chief nursing officer at Summerlin Hospital, argues that Nevada colleges do not have enough graduates to fill the need.

“Summerlin provides the only pediatric oncology services in Las Vegas. To place ratios into effect could put those services in danger of either being limited, closing beds or closing the service,” she said.

Senator Nguyen sent FOX5 the following statement:

“Ensuring Nevadans have safe access to quality health care is critical. We will continue to work with stakeholders to advance legislation that finds balance while promoting the well-being of everyone.”

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