Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to establish safe staffing standards for nurses in hospitals across Montana. The bill mandates that each licensed hospital develop a nurse staffing plan in collaboration with a staffing committee, which must include at least 50% registered nurses in nonsupervisory roles. The staffing plan should outline minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, detail the hospital's employment practices regarding temporary and traveling nurses, and include a process for internal review and input from direct care staff. Additionally, hospitals are required to maintain accurate records of nurse-to-patient ratios and submit their staffing plans annually to the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The bill also prescribes specific minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for various hospital units, such as a maximum of four noncritical patients in emergency rooms, two patients in intensive care units, and six patients in psychiatric units. These ratios are designed to enhance patient care and ensure that nurses are not overburdened, thereby improving the overall quality of healthcare services. The provisions of this bill are intended to be codified as part of Title 50, chapter 5 of Montana law.