RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, there is a fundamental need to protect public health and safety by promoting quality healthcare and improving the delivery of healthcare services to patients in Hawaii's healthcare facilities; and

WHEREAS, nurse staffing is a matter of major concern because of the effects it can have on patient safety and quality of care; and

WHEREAS, improved medical technology in healthcare delivery systems have resulted in higher acuity levels among patients; and

WHEREAS, acuity determines how much care a patient needs; the higher the acuity level, the greater the amount of care – often more specialized care - is required; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations report of 2002 concluded that the lack of direct care provided by registered nurses contributed to nearly a quarter of the unanticipated problems that resulted in injury or death to patients; and

WHEREAS, establishing standards for direct-care registered-nurse-to-patient ratios that take into account acuity measures based on the American Nurses Association's staffing principles will protect nurses and patients from the possible harmful ramifications of unsafe staffing practices; and

WHEREAS, these standards will address the nursing shortage in Hawaii, aid in recruitment of new registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, and improve retention of nurses who are considering leaving direct patient care because of demands created by constant inadequate and inappropriate staffing; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that patient safety and quality healthcare be ensured by establishing, as a baseline, direct-care registered-nurse-to-patient staffing requirements in healthcare facilities without an acuity system that is based upon the American Nurses Association’s staffing principles; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that healthcare facilities in the State of Hawaii, including but not limited to acute care facilities, long term care and skilled nursing facilities, dialysis units, hospice facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and psychiatric facilities, are urged to implement the "Utilization Guide for the American Nurses Association Principles for Safe Staffing"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Center for Nursing is requested to convene a working group of stakeholders, including:

(1) The Department of Health (DOH)

(2) The Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH);

(3) Hawaii Long Term Care Association (HLTCA);

(4) The Hawaii State Center for Nursing (HSCN);

(5) The State Board of Nursing (BON); and

(6) The Hawaii Nurses' Association (HNA),

to address issues of appropriate staffing levels and patient safety; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's health care facilities, such as acute care facilities, long term care and skilled nursing facilities, dialysis units, hospice facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, and psychiatric facilities are requested to provide the Center for Nursing annual data related to:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Center for Nursing is requested to submit a status report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Center for Nursing, the Director of Health, the Dean of the University of Hawaii's School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, the Executive Officer of the Board of Nursing, the Executive Director of Hawaii Nurses' Association, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Long Term Care Association, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hospice Hawaii, Liberty Dialysis, and Kahi Mohala.

Report Title:

Urging healthcare facilities in the State of Hawaii to implement the "Utilization Guide for the American Nurses Association Principles for Safe Staffing." (SD1)