1:4 Nurse-to-Patient Ratios For ALL Inpatient Units Announced at Goshen Hospital

Goshen Hospital in Indiana announced a new one-to-four nurse-to-patient ratio across all inpatient units. 

Announcing a one-to-four ratio reaffirms the hospital’s commitment to

• Patient safety
• High-quality care
• Nursing team well-being

“Establishing a one-to-four ratio affirms our belief that exceptional care begins with strong support for our nurses who work directly with patients,” said Julie Crossley, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Goshen Hospital. “This change allows our nurses the time and focus they need to care for patients while at the same time ensuring a sustainable and healthy work environment for our nursing teams.”

Source: Goshen Health

This initiative makes Goshen a regional leader in staffing and nursing quality. Goshen Hospital’s proactive investment in nursing team staffing demonstrates its dedication to patient outcomes, team support, and community trust.

In May, two Democratic senators and a representative reintroduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Representative Jan Shakowsky (D-Illinois) introduced the bill on International Nurses Day. 

“For years, I’ve talked to exhausted nurses who have said they go home at night, wondering if they forgot to turn a patient because they were stretched far too thin,” Ms. Schakowsky said. “Study after study shows that safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios result in higher-quality care for patients, lower healthcare costs, and a better workplace for nurses. It is past time that we act on the evidence, give nurses the support they deserve, and put patients over profits.”

The bill has been endorsed by, 

• National Nurses United
• Alliance for Retired Americans
• American Federation of Teachers
• SEIU Healthcare
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

At this time, there has not been any movement for the bill to become part of the law; however, Goshen Hospital has taken matters into its own hands. 

Goshen Hospital is a 105-bed, nonprofit, community-owned acute-care hospital serving patients in northern Indiana. Founded in 1913, Goshen Hospital has endless accolades, including

• Five Magnet^® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accreditation for nursing continuing professional development
• Five-time silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
• Accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) 
• American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy’s (ASGE) Award of Excellence
• Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence™ (DICOE) from the American College of Radiology (ACR)
• Inspire Hospital of Distinction from the Indiana Hospital Association for excellence in maternal and infant care

🤔 Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.