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 direct patient care roles. The staffing plan must outline minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for various hospital units, including emergency rooms, intensive care units, and labor and delivery units, among others. 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 for certification.

The bill prescribes specific minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, such as limiting emergency room nurses to four noncritical patients or one critical patient, and intensive care unit nurses to two patients. It also includes provisions for the staffing committee to receive input from direct care staff and mandates that the staffing plan be updated annually and posted in each care unit for visibility. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance patient care quality and safety by ensuring adequate nursing staff levels in hospitals.