October 1, 2015 marks an historic day for Jackson Health System and the patients we serve.- This is the day all units are expected to be compliant with the nurse to patient staffing ratios negotiated in the SEIU/JHS labor contract.
- Over the past year, Jackson has hired hundreds of nurses in order to prepare for this day, but we know some areas are still falling short. Now that the deadline is upon us, our union is launching a campaign to monitor nurse assignments and demand management find solutions to reach compliance, as required by our contract.
- In order to monitor compliance with the ratios stated in the contract, we have assigned nurse members to begin recording the nurse to patient ratios every four hours throughout every shift.
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Staffing Reporting Forms for Assigned Members |
- The contract language (Art. XXXII) states that “when a unit is not compliant…the Department Manger or his/her designee will immediately make all reasonable attempts to return the unit to compliance by assigning additional personnel to the unit. The Nurse Manager, Associate Nurse Manager, Nurse Educator or Charge Nurse may temporarily assume a patient assignment until the unit is back in compliance, but no longer than is necessary to resolve the issue.”
- Our union’s rep/organizers and members leaders are organizing this data collection and enforcement effort. If you have questions, be sure to contact your SEIU Local 1991 executive board member, steward or staff rep.
Thank you for your continued dedication and activism to make Jackson better for our patients and the community we serve.
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The Staffing ratios stated on the contract (which can be found on page 67 of the RN contract) are:
· Adult medical, surgical, rehabilitation and palliative care patients 1: up to 6
· Telemetry patients 1: up to 5
· Pediatric Medical/Surgical patients 1: 5
· Medical Oncology and Gyn/Gyo patients 1:5
· Transplant and Intermediate Care patients 1:3 or 1:4 (based on acuity)
· Acute and emergency mental health patients 1:9 (with direct support from care providers who are specially-trained in the management of the psychiatric milieu)
· Geriatric Psychiatric patients 1:8
· Emergency Services 1:4 or 1:5 (based on acuity)
· Critical Care patients 1: up to 2
· Charge Nurse and/or Associate Nurse Managers will not routinely be assigned patients.
· In blended units, staffing will be based on the acuity of the patient(s). Patient acuity, not the unit in which they are housed, will determine the appropriate ratio.
· For areas not listed above, the staffing ratios will continue to be set by national professional nursing organizations such as AWHONN [Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses]; RPICC [Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center], AORN [Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses], ASPAN [American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses), and external regulatory agencies
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