NJ A3450

Mandates minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities, ranging from 1:5 in medical/surgical and psychiatric units to 1:1 for patients under anesthesia in operating rooms and trauma patients in emergency departments

Requires all covered facilities to implement an approved acuity and staffing system that increases staffing above minimum levels based on patient classification, skill mix, and other objective criteria, with approval from nursing staff or their union

Permits temporary waiver of staffing requirements only during unforeseeable emergencies when facilities have exhausted all reasonable efforts to secure additional staff, including volunteers, on-call, per-diem, and agency nurses

Authorizes the Commissioner of Health to waive minimum staffing requirements for facilities determined to be in financial distress, and empowers the Department of Health to enforce standards through inspections and complaint investigations

Directs the Commissioner of Human Services to review and revise staffing standards for registered professional nurses at State developmental centers to ensure safe staffing practices