BY RICK PLUTA
Michigan Public Radio Network
Democrats in the Legislature and a nurses' union are calling for a state law that would require hospitals to maintain staff levels without resorting to mandatory overtime.
Right now, Californa is the only state with a law that sets minimum staffing levels in hospitals.
State Representative Jon Switalski is about to introduce legislation to set staffing requirements in emergency rooms and other hospital wards.
"Nurse staffing can literally be a life-or-death issue and affects families from Detroit to the Upper Peninsula." Switalski said.
Similar legislation has failed in previous sessions of the Legislature.
The Michigan Health & Hospitals Association opposes the idea. The group said a law that sets staffing requirements would rob administrators of the flexibility they need to meet different situations. The association said the bigger problem is a shortage of trained nurses.
Copyright 2013, MPRN
