MA panel approves nurse staffing rules

A Massachusetts agency approved the state's first-ever mandate on nurse staffing in hospital intensive care units on Wednesday. The regulations require hospitals to limit patient assignments so each intensive care nurse is responsible for no more than two patients. The Health Policy Commission voted unanimously to apply the rules to all ICUs, including special units for burn patients, children, and premature babies. The vote came after commissioners had raised concerns that neonatal intensive care units in particular are different from adult ICUs and will probably have a harder time complying with the regulations because their patient loads are less predictable.