“ONA commends the Ohio Senate and House for passing House Bill 452 with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Rick Lucas, BSN, RN, CCRN, ONA President and Executive Director. “This legislation is a critical first step toward protecting Ohio’s nurses and health professionals from the violence they face daily while caring for others, however, our work is far from done.”
“While HB452 now awaits Governor DeWine’s signature, hospital executives continue to prioritize profits over patient care, creating unsafe conditions for employees and jeopardizing the lives of those they serve. Minimum staffing standards must be established and enforced in every hospital across Ohio,” said Lucas. “This is the foundation for addressing the staffing crisis and protecting both patients and healthcare workers.”
“Although HB285 did not pass during this General Assembly, ONA remains unwavering in our commitment to fight for safe staffing,” Lucas continued.” Adequate staffing is the cornerstone of quality healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the care they need and healthcare professionals can perform their duties safely and effectively.”
“Safe staffing should never be optional—we can’t keep burying our loved ones while hospital executives, driven by greed, put profits above lives,” said Lucas. “ONA is determined to reintroduce this critical legislation and will relentlessly advocate for its passage in the next General Assembly, securing the protections Ohio’s nurses, health professionals, and patients so desperately need and deserve. We will not stop until real, enforceable solutions are in place.”