Rally for Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
In some rural and regional hospitals there can be one nurse for up to 11 patients – a ratio that the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association is concerned is pushing nurses to burn out. While higher nurse-to-patient ratios could reduce errors, improve the time nurses can spend in patient care, cause higher retention of skilled nurses and midwives and potentially save lives, nurse-to-patient ratios are not currently mandated in NSW.
On Tuesday, more than 100 nurses and midwives rallied outside the state parliament, calling on the NSW government to introduce legislation similar to that in place in other Australian states. Judith Kiejda, Assistant General Secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association joined 2Ser Breakfast to talk about the changes they are proposing, and whether we will see these changes introduced in the near future.
