Bill > H766

This bill requires both acute-care hospitals and nursing homes in Massachusetts to include a registered nurse (RN) with a current, unencumbered nursing license as a full voting member of their governing board. Specifically, the RN would participate in developing the organization's strategic plan, structure, systems, policies, and programs. An acute-care hospital is a medical facility providing short-term, intensive treatment and medical intervention, typically for patients with serious or complex medical conditions. The bill aims to ensure that healthcare institutions have direct nursing expertise and perspective at the highest level of organizational decision-making, potentially improving patient care strategies and institutional governance by incorporating the professional insights of frontline healthcare workers who have direct experience with patient care challenges and needs.