The Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) celebrates the introduction of Senate Bill 283, safe nurse staffing legislation that would establish minimum safe nurse staffing standards in hospitals across Alaska. This landmark bill is a direct response to the worsening nurse staffing crisis that puts Alaskan patients at risk and pushes dedicated nurses out of the profession.
AaNA is building a statewide movement to pass this legislation because unsafe staffing is a public health crisis that Alaskans can no longer afford to ignore. While many facilities strive for safety, nurses are seeing a growing trend of increased patient loads that compromise care. SB 283 ensures safety by mandating minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for specific hospital units (such as 1:4 in medical-surgical units and 1:2 in intensive care units) and creating nurse-led staffing committees to oversee staffing plans at every hospital.
“Nurses have been sounding the alarm on the staffing crisis for years, and today, we finally have a legislative path forward that prioritizes patient safety,” says Shannon Davenport, RN, President of the AaNA Board of Directors. “We are grateful to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee for their leadership in sponsoring SB 283. By establishing enforceable, statewide nurse staffing standards, this bill will ensure that when Alaskans go to the hospital, their nurse has the time and resources to provide the high-quality care they deserve.”
“We’ve seen what happens when staffing levels are allowed to deviate from unsafe standards: medical errors increase and nurses experience moral injury and burnout,” says Donna Phillips, RN, Chair of the AaNA Labor Council. “SB 283 is the solution we need to improve working conditions and ensure a sustainable future for nurses at the bedside. It is time for a statewide standard that puts patients and healthcare workers first.”
“Across Alaska, unsafe staffing is putting patients at risk and driving nurses out of the profession,” says Madison Eckhart, RN, AaNA Legislative Committee Chair. “That’s why AaNA is building a statewide movement to pass this bill. We need your help to fight for the quality care that Alaskans deserve.“
Join our statewide movement for safe staffing to receive updates and be the first to hear about opportunities to take action as we work to pass SB 283!