Florida Senate Bill 454 - Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act

• Establishes mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios ranging from 1:1 in operating rooms and trauma units to 1:6 in well-baby nurseries, with ratios specified for each unit type.

• Prohibits mandatory overtime, averaging of staffing ratios, and layoffs of support staff to meet ratio requirements; requires staffing plans developed by committees with at least half direct-care registered nurses.

• Restricts unlicensed personnel from performing nursing functions requiring clinical judgment; designates patient assessment and care planning as tasks only direct-care registered nurses may perform.

• Protects nurses' rights to refuse unsafe assignments without retaliation and establishes patient advocacy duties; allows nurses to challenge physician orders deemed not in patient's best interest.

• Creates enforcement mechanisms including civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation for facilities and up to $20,000 for employees, requires posting of staffing information in units, and establishes toll-free hotline for reporting violations.