A recent study conducted by the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has claimed that the legislation in California that set nurse-to-patient ratio has added more nurses to the hospital staffing mix. The new addition has increased the total number of nurses which was feared to decline earlier. The study was published in the journal Health Affairs.

The study has revealed that California had faced more serious nurse shortage than other areas of the country but coped with it by hiring travel nurses. These nurses are temporary workers who move from hospital to hospital as needed.

Lead researcher Matthew McHugh, a Nursing Professor at the University of Pennsylvania said, “California's state-mandated nurse staffing ratios have been shown to be successful in terms of increasing registered nurse staffing, from a policy perspective, this should be useful information to the states currently debating legislation on nurse-to-patient ratios”.

McHugh further said that the findings of the study reveal, the nurse-to-patient ratio mandate in California was successful in increasing registered nurse staffing in hospitals. California was the first state to pass legislation which set staff levels. California legislators has allowed the hospitals to employ licensed practical nurses and registered nurses to meet the requirements of the law