NEED FOR NURSES INCREASES HENRY MAYO RECRUITS FOR JOBS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - As hospitals move to meet a new state law that requires minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital has handled the demands by aggressively recruiting, adding more positions to give nurses an opportunity to climb the ``clinical ladder'' and maintaining relationships with local nursing schools.

Beginning today, the Safe Staffing Law that was signed in 1999 by former Gov. Gray Davis goes into effect. The law requires all California hospitals to meet a nurse-to-patient ratio in every hospital unit to increase patient care and help retain staff.

California is the first state to try the experimental law, but officials at Henry Mayo said they already implemented the changes at least a year ago. In the emergency department, for example, two nurses were added to change the ratio to one nurse per four patients. In the general medical- surgical unit, the ratio will change from one nurse per six patients, which is the law, to one to five by 2005.

More than 270 registered nurses work at Newhall Memorial, but the vacancy rate there remains at about 11.53 percent compared to what hospital officials say is 12 percent in Southern California. The hospital is looking to fill 32 more positions.

``One of the things we have going for us is that people care about the community,'' said hospital spokeswoman Andie Bogdan. ``Nurses who live here are discovering this is a good place to work, and word is getting around. Nurses are in a good position now. We really try to recruit who want to be here. We get 60 percent of applicants on our Internet.''

The hospital also has added a new position: the charge nurse, who moves in when another nurse is on a break. The position, considered at a higher rung on what the hospital calls the clinical ladder, was created to offer experienced registered nurses a promotion of sorts.

``We hope this will help with retention,'' Bogdan said. ``It's as high as you can go before becoming the director of the unit. There's more hands-on with patients.''

Additionally, the hospital is maintaining a relationship with College of the Canyons. Beginning in the spring, the college will offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing as part of a partnership with California State University, Northridge.

Dee Rickett, director of Critical Care at the hospital who also recruits, said the ratios are easier to fulfill in Santa Clarita, because it is a growing community and nurses who live locally but work elsewhere are more likely to consider Henry Mayo again.

The hospital this year recovered from bankruptcy and has changed its top administration. Earlier last year, nurses ratified new contracts that called for improved patient care.

``I think we've turned around our reputation,'' Rickett said. ``These nurses tell other nurses we are reputable hospital.''

Former traveling nurse Sue Barse is an example of someone who wanted to work in the community where she lives. She chose Newhall Memorial after careful research of hospitals and communities in California. She was looking for a nice area to raise her family, she said, and Santa Clarita beckoned.

Barse was first hired to work in the Behavioral Health and Psychiatric Unit in August, but was quickly promoted to a position she really wanted, which was in administration.

``I liked the community and the city had a good feel about it,'' said Barse, a clinical manager for the the newly created Wound Care Center. ``Living here made me want to commit to working here.''

While the California Nurses Association has hailed the ratio law, saying it will help patient care and help retain nurses who in recent years were more likely to suffer from burnout, the California Healthcare Association filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court this week, arguing the state Department of Health Services' interpretation of the law will burden hospitals and threaten health care.

The lawsuit does not challenge the entire law, but takes issue with requirements that a nurse fill in when another nurse takes a break - to maintain the nurse-to-patient ratio.

``Because of the severity of California's nursing shortage, which is the worst in the nation, there are not enough nurses to implement this requirement,'' the Healthcare Association stated in a news release. The group represents about 500 hospitals and health systems throughout the state.

Rickett at Newhall Memorial admitted that parts of the new law were confusing, but that the hospital would be mindful not to hire inexperienced nurses for its most critical units just to meet ratios.

``In an ideal world, you would not take a new graduate in the ICU,'' Rickett said. ``I think the response from our hospital is, we closely monitor that nurse, until they are ready. Hospitals have to use great caution great and care.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com