As a long-term care nurse, I have firsthand experience of how unsafe direct care staff ratios can compromise the quality of care. For patients who are vulnerable and require a high level of support, this is more than a staff issue - it affects their health, wellbeing, and dignity. Guidelines which mandate safe patient-to-staff ratios in long-term care facilities, based on census and acuity, must be established and enforced.

Current staffing practices cause tremendous physical and emotional stress to nursing staff. It leads to higher burnout rates which exacerbates staff shortage issues, creating a vicious cycle. An analysis of the National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) showed that 23.5% of nursing home staff experienced high burnout levels (Journal of Aging & Health, 2017). This not only impedes staff morale and job satisfaction, but also compromises the quality of care provided to patients.

When safe staffing practices are prioritized, there are several positive outcomes: improved patient safety, decreased mortality rates, and enhanced satisfaction among staff and patients alike. In fact, one study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that improved staffing ratios could reduce patient mortality by up to 15% (Geriatric Nursing, 2018).

Demand for long-term care services is expected to grow as the population aged 65 and over will nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, (Population Reference Bureau, 2020). Therefore, it's crucial to address this issue now to better prepare our healthcare system for the future.

The health of our patients and the wellbeing of our long-term care nursing staff should not be compromised. A mandate on safe patient-to-staff ratios based on census and acuity levels is long overdue. Let’s make this urgent change together, for the betterment of our healthcare system and the people we serve. Please sign this petition to advocate for safe, compassionate, and effective long-term care.