Sick Hospitals

There is a lot of controversy in Massachusetts over a bill about to be voted on by our Legislature mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in our hospitals.  Nurses generally seem to be in favor, while administrators and doctors seem to be opposed.  It is confusing. 

It is not clear who is meant by "nurse".  I have not read anything about the work of various "Assistants" or even LPNs who, in my experience, do a lot of the work that the debaters claim RNs do; or about the large amount of time that RNs seem to spend doing adminstrative duties, rather than direct patient care.  I did read another article this week about the thousands of patients who get infections every year in hospitals from poor care from somebody (not clear).  I often hear staff on all levels complain about being over-worked and under-paid and about battles between them and Adminstration and about poor management.  As a patient, I know what it is to wait an inordinate amount of time for some one to answer the bell and be told, "Sorry, we are short tonight."  And have you been in an ER lately?  Something's wrong.  Hospitals are sick.