AZ SB1384

Requires each licensed hospital in Arizona to establish a hospital nurse staffing committee with at least 55% direct care registered nurses (non-managers).

Committee must develop a hospital-wide staffing plan that establishes minimum ratios of direct care registered nurses to patients for each unit and shift, with ratios being upwardly adjustable based on patient care intensity.

Staffing plans must be based on input from direct care nurses and chief nurse executives, considering patient acuity, nurse education and experience, support staff levels, specialty nursing organization recommendations, and quality/outcome data.

Hospitals must post daily staffing information for each shift in visible locations, specifying the number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff providing patient care and identifying registered nurse counts specifically.

All hospitals must implement their developed staffing plans by July 1, 2015, with annual evaluations and modifications as needed.