Question 1 on nurse ratios defeated
Supporters laud ability to keep providing ‘best possible care’
The hotly contested Question 1 ballot initiative on nurse-staffing ratios was defeated last night, signaling victory for the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, who led the “No on 1” campaign.
The defeat means mandatory safe-patient limits will not be assigned to Massachusetts registered nurses working in hospitals. Question 1 kept the medical community divided during most of the campaign with the Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care leading the “Yes on 1” campaign.
“What we won tonight was the ability to continue providing the best possible care for patients throughout Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association President and CEO Steve Walsh.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the industry group that pushed for a “yes” vote on Question 1 argued that tightening nurse ratios would benefit patient care and improve the working environments for nurses.
“I’m very disappointed by tonight’s results and the impact that this will have on our patients,” said Donna Kelly– Williams of the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
The opposition pointed to the high cost of hiring new nurses and argued that it would not improve safety for patients. The group also cited a nurse staffing shortage in the state.
Nurse staffing ratios are already set to a mandated 2-1 ratio in the intensive care unit, but the ballot measure pushed to extend the ratios to all other hospital departments.
The campaign drew in a lot of funding, the opposition racked up over $26 million in campaign contributions while the Yes on 1 campaign made over $11 million.