(ALBANY) – New York State Health Committee Chair and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried joined more than 1,300 Members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and Nursing Students earlier this week during a Rally held in Albany to speak out against the Shortage of Nursing Staff in New York Hospitals.

"Safe Staffing Levels reduce avoidable Patient Injuries and Deaths.  Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the odds of Patient Death increased by seven-percent for each additional Patient a Nurse must care for at one time,” Gottfried told those attending the Rally.

On April 10th, Assemblyman Gottfried introduced Assembly Bill 6571 - the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act - which would Set a Limit for the Number of Patients a Nurse can be forced to take on at one time in Acute-Care Hospitals.  Since it was introduced, 76 Members of the Assembly have signed on to Co-Sponsor the Bill – which is more than half of the Assembly’s Total Membership of 150.

“The Ratios and Hours specified in the Bill are based on Peer-Reviewed and Evidence-Based Recommendations and will help Hospitals and Nursing Homes ‘work better’ for Patient Safety and Quality Health Care," Assemblyman Gottfried said.

Registered Nurse (RN) Pat Kane, an Elected NYSNA Leader, also spoke at the Rally, saying: “Hospital Administrators are forcing Nurses to care for nine, ten, or even more Patients at once. That’s too many.  We need our Elected Representatives to set a limit on how many Patients a Nurse can be forced to take on at a time.”

After the Rally, Nurses and Nursing Students took part in more than 200 scheduled meetings with State Assembly Members and Senators to make their case for Safe Nurse Staffing.

NYSNA - The Voice For Nursing In The Empire State - Represents more than 37,000 Members, and is the State's Largest Professional Association and Union for RNs.  The Union also supports Nurses and Nursing Practice through Education, Research, Legislative Advocacy and Collective Bargaining.