Minnesota could regulate nurse-patient ratio

A Minnesota bill under consideration would define nurse assignment limits as "the maximum number of patients for whom one direct care registered nurse can be responsible during a shift." The number of nurses per unit would be reflective of patient acuity, the severity of patients' illnesses or medical conditions. Carol Diemert, nursing practice specialist with the Minnesota Nurses Association, said if a nurse's patient load is four, adding one patient would increase the risk of death by 7 percent.