Last week, The Republican newspaper, based in Springfield, issued
this strong editorial entitled Nurse staffing by referendum is a bad idea, which, among other things, states that “If Massachusetts voters decide on nurse staffing ratios by referendum, it will rank among the least appropriate referendum options ever to appear on the ballot.” The editorial was prompted by a state Supreme Judicial Court challenge to Attorney General Maura Healey’s decision to certify the nurse staffing ratio ballot question. The SJC heard arguments on April 3rd and a decision on the matter is anticipated sometime in June.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA)-sponsored ballot question would force all hospitals in Massachusetts to adopt a rigid, one-size-fits-all, at-all-times, mandated registered nurse staffing ratio in every single unit of every hospital.
“Nurse staffing is a vital issue, but it's not one the voters of Massachusetts are equipped to determine in a fact-based, informed fashion,” The Republican editorial board wrote.