Legislation Letter

March 23, 2015

The Honorable William Foster

1224, Longworth House Office Building

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Foster:

I am writing to you as a constituent and a nursing student regarding House Bill: H.R. 952 – Put A Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act of 2015. This act would require that a direct-care Registered Nurse (RN) be present 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all skilled nursing facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.

The current law mandates that an RN is required on-site only eight hours a day regardless of the number of beds in the facility. Over the past two decades, the scope of medical care and the medical needs for nursing home residents have changed significantly. It is imperative that these residents receive care from RNs round the clock to assess and respond to changes in condition to ensure optimal rehabilitation.

The House Bill: H.R. 952 mentions RNs specifically since there is a positive relationship between nurse staffing and the quality and safety of nursing home care. Although Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) are essential to good care and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) provide the most hands-on help, they are no match to the tasks that RNs are trained and licensed to perform. Only RNs can conduct assessments and evaluate a patient’s care when their condition changes, which can happen rapidly. Without someone to make an assessment at the right time patients’ life could be put at risk. Also, unnecessary hospitalization can be avoided if RNs are available to make timely assessments and tend to the needs of their patients. RNs receive more education than LPNs or CNAs since they have to assume more responsibility like pushing intravenous drugs, starting intravenous lines and hanging blood. Absence of RNs for any period of time reduces the safety and quality of care received by nursing facility residents putting their life at jeopardy.

I thank you for taking time to read my letter and would be glad to provide more information or answer questions that you or your staff may have regarding this bill. I urge you to support House Bill: H.R. 952 - Put A Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act of 2015. By supporting continuous RN presence in skilled nursing facilities, we can ensure that some of our most vulnerable population will have a timely, safe and high quality care they deserve in nursing homes.

Sincerely,