SB 638 Summary

• Creates the "Florida Hospital Patient Protection Act" establishing mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals, ranging from 1:1 in trauma/operating rooms to 1:6 in well-baby nurseries, effective July 1, 2018.

• Prohibits health care facilities from imposing mandatory overtime to meet staffing requirements, using acuity-adjustable units, or substituting video monitoring for direct patient observation.

• Requires direct care registered nurses to perform patient assessments and prohibits unlicensed personnel from performing clinical tasks requiring nursing judgment, including medication administration and invasive procedures.

• Protects nurses' rights to refuse unsafe assignments or tasks without retaliation, allows nurses to act as patient advocates, and provides legal remedies including reinstatement and damages for violations.

• Mandates health care facilities to develop written staffing plans based on acuity-based patient classification systems, submit annual reports to the Agency for Health Care Administration, and post staffing information publicly; establishes civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation.