Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2025

# Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2025 **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would establish minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals across the United States. If passed, hospitals would be required to maintain specific numbers of registered nurses on duty relative to the number of patients they treat, with different ratios for different hospital units (such as intensive care, emergency departments, and general medical floors). The bill aims to improve patient safety and care quality by ensuring hospitals have adequate nursing staff to properly care for patients. **Who It Affects** The legislation would directly impact hospitals and their nursing staff. Hospitals would need to hire additional nurses or adjust their staffing schedules to comply with the new requirements.

Patients would potentially benefit from increased nurse availability and attention. Healthcare costs could increase as hospitals adjust to staffing mandates, which may affect insurance premiums and hospital finances. **Current Status** The bill (S 1709) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Alex Padilla of California and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet advanced to a full Senate vote. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process with no action taken since introduction.