OR HB3985

Amends ORS 441.765 to create a new nurse-to-patient ratio category for lower-acuity emergency department patients, allowing 1:6 average ratio over a 12-hour shift with a maximum of 6 patients at one time

Lower-acuity patients qualifying for the relaxed ratio include those directed to fast-track areas for less serious conditions or those triaged as level four or five on the Emergency Severity Index

Maintains the existing 1:4 average ratio (maximum 5 patients at one time) for general emergency department patients not meeting the lower-acuity criteria

Continues requiring 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio for trauma patients in the emergency department, with trauma nurses excluded from ratio calculations