The Ohio Nurse Workforce and Safe Patient Act seeks to improve patient safety and address nursing workforce challenges by mandating hospitals to create and adhere to registered nurse staffing plans. The bill establishes nurse staffing committees, which must include a majority of direct care registered nurses, responsible for developing and approving staffing plans that ensure appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios based on care unit type and patient acuity. Hospitals are required to publicly post their approved staffing plans and submit them to the director of health, who can impose stricter ratios if necessary. The legislation also protects nurses who refuse to participate in unsafe practices and mandates regular audits and public reporting of staffing compliance.

In addition to staffing regulations, the bill introduces a Nursing Student Loan-to-Grant Program, providing financial assistance to nursing students in exchange for a five-year service commitment in designated healthcare roles. The program is funded with a $10,000,000 appropriation and includes provisions for the Chancellor of Higher Education to manage it. The bill also requires the Director of Health to investigate complaints regarding staffing violations and mandates corrective action plans for non-compliant hospitals. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance nursing education and improve healthcare delivery in Ohio while ensuring patient safety through regulated staffing practices.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3333.28, 3722.01, 4723.489, 4730.203, 4772.092, 3727.50, 3727.51, 3727.52, 3727.53, 3727.54, 3727.55, 3727.56, 3727.57