The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is a labor union of state government professional, scientific and technical workers. In December 2000 and January 2001 PEF participated in a series of public hearings conducted by state legislators addressing the impact of short-staffing on worker and patient safety in state run mental hygiene facilities and nursing homes. The testimony of rank and file nurses, social workers, psychologists, hospital surveyors, and union officials illustrated the severe impact short-staffing is having in state institutions. The testimony included an analysis of injuries showing that rates in some of the state mental hygiene facilities are greater than in construction or coal mining. Assaults on staff by patients are the leading cause of injury and many injured workers associated the assaults they experienced with inadequate staffing. The union also presented staffing data showing that there are a significant number of unfilled vacancies, especially in nursing. This is causing excessive use of mandatory overtime, difficulty in scheduling time off, and impacting employee morale. The compelling testimony revealed that short-staffing is causing tremendous human and financial costs as well as a significant disruption to care. A number of state and federal legislative proposals would establish minimum staffing levels and safety standards. There is an urgent need for research to study the association between staffing and safety.
See www.pef.org/testimony.htm#Employee and Patient Safety
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe impact that short staffing has on patient and worker safety in New York State mental hygiene facilities. 2. Review injury rates, assault incidents, staff vacancies and other factors affected by staffing. 3. Participants will learn about legislative proposals for minimum staffing ratios and safety programs in state institutions.
Keywords: Violence, Staff Retention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.