A recent study by Australian researchers found that hospital understaffing in hospitals in many high-income countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States can cause a breakdown in the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).  

The study, published in the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, noted that "Overcrowding and understaffing have had a negative effect on patient safety and quality of care, evidenced by the flourishing of health-care-acquired MRSA infections. . ."

Read an article on the study that appeared in the June 24th edition of the Washington Post here .  

On May 22, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 115-35 for a bill that would set safe nurse staffing ratios.  Nurses in Massachusetts have fought for staffing ratios legislation for several years, working closely with health care and patient advocacy groups in the Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients (go to www.protectmasspatients.org for more information) 

In response to nurses' requests, 22 Illinois State Representatives signed a letter to the Illinois Department of Public Health, urging the department to ensure that Illinois hospitals provide accurate, detailed and comprehensive data about nurse staffing -including a unit-by-unit breakdown.