Nurse to Patient Ratio becomes Law

California

Touted as a victory by the California Nurses Association, a California low now puts the patient to nurse ration for general medical care at 1:5, it was 1:6. For emergency room services, the new ratio is 1:4. The opposing viewpoint states California is already short 14,000 nurses. The new law could close hospitals unable to fulfill the mandate.

Governor Swartzenegger plans to appeal the ruling.