6324 224th Street
O’Brien, FL, 32701
September 29, 2025
The Honorable Ashley Moody
United States Senate
SR-387 Russell Senate
Office Building
Washington, D.C. 2002
Dear Senator Moody:
I am writing to you as a registered nurse who is currently working in the emergency department
while pursing my BSN at the University of West Florida. I am writing to advocateadvocating for
action on the ongoing nursing workforce shortages, as well as and the need for safe staffing
legislation. Nurses form the largest sector of the healthcare workforce and thus are essential to
ensuring patient safety and high-quality care. Yet, evidenceEvidence shows that the shortage of
nurses is worsening, leading to increased stress, burnout, and turnover among nurses., as well
asEvidence also shows that these nursing shortages result in preventable harm being done and
poorer outcomes for patients (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023). I have experienced firsthand
how this not only affects us as nurses but also impacts patient outcomes.
Nurses are the backbones backbone of patient care, yet many hospitals have unsafe staffing
levels. . Research shows that hospitals across the US have critical nursing shortages. Research
shows that increased nurse-to-patient ratios are strongly correlated with adverse patient
outcomes. This includes high mortality, longer length of stay, and readmissions. When staffing is
short, nurses are forced to work extra hardin excess, thus increasing the risk for error, burnout,
and turnover. A systematic review by Tamata and Mohammadnezhad (2022) highlights that
ineffective workforce policies, high turnover, and burnout extend these shortages—,
compromising which compromise care delivery. Similarly, research by Lasater et al. (2021)
demonstrates that implementing mandated staffing ratios improves patient safety, safety by
reducing reduces nurse workload;, and helpshelping retain skilled nurses in hospital settings.
The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act sets clear
minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in order to to provide safe and effective care. Federal action is
crucial to standardize staffingin standardizing staffing across statesthe U.S.;, provide providing
funding support, andsupport and make sureensuring that hospitals are being held accountable for
maintaining adequate nurse staffing levels.
I respectfully urge you to support and advocate for the passage of the Nurse Staffing Standards
for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. In doing so, you will help ensure that patients
receive the safe, high-quality care they deserve while also supporting and ensuring the that
nurses hospitals are having maintaining an appropriate evidence-based minimum nurse-to-patient
ratio.
O’Brien, FL, 32701
September 29, 2025
The Honorable Ashley Moody
United States Senate
SR-387 Russell Senate
Office Building
Washington, D.C. 2002
Dear Senator Moody:
I am writing to you as a registered nurse who is currently working in the emergency department
while pursing my BSN at the University of West Florida. I am writing to advocateadvocating for
action on the ongoing nursing workforce shortages, as well as and the need for safe staffing
legislation. Nurses form the largest sector of the healthcare workforce and thus are essential to
ensuring patient safety and high-quality care. Yet, evidenceEvidence shows that the shortage of
nurses is worsening, leading to increased stress, burnout, and turnover among nurses., as well
asEvidence also shows that these nursing shortages result in preventable harm being done and
poorer outcomes for patients (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023). I have experienced firsthand
how this not only affects us as nurses but also impacts patient outcomes.
Nurses are the backbones backbone of patient care, yet many hospitals have unsafe staffing
levels. . Research shows that hospitals across the US have critical nursing shortages. Research
shows that increased nurse-to-patient ratios are strongly correlated with adverse patient
outcomes. This includes high mortality, longer length of stay, and readmissions. When staffing is
short, nurses are forced to work extra hardin excess, thus increasing the risk for error, burnout,
and turnover. A systematic review by Tamata and Mohammadnezhad (2022) highlights that
ineffective workforce policies, high turnover, and burnout extend these shortages—,
compromising which compromise care delivery. Similarly, research by Lasater et al. (2021)
demonstrates that implementing mandated staffing ratios improves patient safety, safety by
reducing reduces nurse workload;, and helpshelping retain skilled nurses in hospital settings.
The Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act sets clear
minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in order to to provide safe and effective care. Federal action is
crucial to standardize staffingin standardizing staffing across statesthe U.S.;, provide providing
funding support, andsupport and make sureensuring that hospitals are being held accountable for
maintaining adequate nurse staffing levels.
I respectfully urge you to support and advocate for the passage of the Nurse Staffing Standards
for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. In doing so, you will help ensure that patients
receive the safe, high-quality care they deserve while also supporting and ensuring the that
nurses hospitals are having maintaining an appropriate evidence-based minimum nurse-to-patient
ratio.
