I used to work alongside a highly skilled nurse who chose to take her dedication and experience to the Emergency Department. Upon her transition, it was not anticipation or excitement that consumed her, but fear and unease. On her first outing in the Emergency Department, she was assigned nine patients, and it was clear that this posed significant risks to not only her own wellbeing but the lives and health of these nine individuals in her charge.

This unsafe nurse-to-patient ratio is not an isolated case but rather a widespread issue plaguing the nursing industry. American Nurses Association states that appropriate nurse staffing helps improve patient outcomes, increases satisfaction and reduces healthcare associated infections. According to research, having a ratio of more than four patients per nurse can increase patient mortality rate by 14% (Aiken, 2010 "Implications of the California nurse staffing mandate for other states").

High patient-to-nurse ratios compromise the delivery of quality healthcare, limit patient communication, and increase the chances of medical errors and nurse burnout. It's time we addressed this systemic problem for the good of our nurses and our patients.

We urge policymakers to review current regulations and enact laws to guarantee safer nurse-to-patient ratios. The wellbeing of our nurses, and the safety of our patients hangs in the balance. Sign this petition to voice your demand for safer nurse-to-patient ratios in all healthcare settings.