WA legislators weigh mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals

A recent poll of 1,200 health care workers in Washington, done by health care unions, shows that nearly half say they’re likely to leave the profession in the next few years, with most citing short-staffing as a primary reason.

Proponents of implementing staffing ratios in Washington say these measures could help decrease burnout, keep nurses like Ruiz at the bedside, and improve the quality of care.

They say health care workers have hit a breaking point, and ensuring that they don’t have unsafe patient loads is one way to help address the crisis.