The "Quality Patient Care Act" mandates that hospitals in Minnesota adhere to nationally accepted standards for registered nurse staffing levels. It requires the development and implementation of staffing plans that specify maximum patient assignments for direct-care registered nurses, ensuring patient safety through adequate staffing. The bill outlines specific patient-to-nurse ratios based on care intensity and acuity, prohibits averaging patient assignments over time, and mandates that staffing plans be created in consultation with direct-care registered nurses and approved by relevant labor unions. Additionally, it protects nurses from retaliation for reporting inadequate staffing and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, with extended timelines for rural hospitals.

The legislation further prohibits mandatory overtime, the assignment of inadequately trained nurses, and layoffs of essential nursing staff to meet staffing limits. It establishes a Safe Patient Assignment Committee, which must include a majority of direct-care registered nurses, to assess staffing needs and ensure compliance with assignment limits. The bill emphasizes the necessity of direct patient observation by registered nurses, prohibiting the use of technology as a substitute for direct care. Hospitals are required to submit detailed staffing plans and reports, and the commissioner of health is granted authority to impose civil penalties for violations, with appropriations included to support enforcement activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 144.7055, 148.264