6/10/2014 Editorial: Lying with statistics | Boston Herald Editorial: Lying with statistics Print Saturday, June 7, 2014 Email 3 Comments By: Herald Staff It’s hard not to be amused by the newly released “survey” of registered nurses conducted on behalf of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and National Nurses United — both of which favor government-mandated staffing levels for hospital RNs. So we know you’ll be simply shocked to find that, according to their survey, one in four nurses “believe” that patient deaths are due to nurses having too many patients to care for at any one time. Now one in four nurses could “believe” the moon is made of green cheese, but that still wouldn’t make it so. It is rather astonishing that those who work day in and day out in a profession solidly based in scientific knowledge should want to foist on the public this phony baloney “survey” purporting to be fact. Rep. Denise Garlick (D-Needham), a registered nurse who often carries water for the union, insisted the survey shows patient safety is “erratic, unpredictable and subject to many pressures in the health care system, most not even related to the actual patients and their needs.” She said among its “disturbing findings” were that 57 percent of those surveyed believed “understaffing” had led to medical errors. Again, no numbers to back that up except the opinions of those surveyed. Apparently the fact that the Commonwealth Fund ranks this state second in the nation for overall health care, the fact that its hospitals consistently rank among the nation’s finest in the U.S. News & World Report surveys, seems to matter little to the MNA, which desperately wants state lawmakers to micro-manage nurse staffing levels at all hospitals in the state — an idea that is beyond appalling. And if that doesn’t work, the MNA wants to put a question on the ballot that would mandate a maximum of four patients per nurse — a measure even Garlick calls a “blunt instrument.” It’s as if doctors and hospital administrators and the thousands of health care professionals involved in patient care, are mere appendages — all conspiring to make nurses’ lives miserable. And surely the MNA has a survey to “prove” that too. More On: Massachusetts Nurses Association National Nurses United Author(s): Herald Staff / Boston Herald letterstoeditor@bostonherald.com @bostonherald FROM AROUND THE WEB MORE FROM BOSTONHERALD.COM Police: Ala. father killed daughter's abuser Lynn school teacher admits to hit-and-run charges Lawyer: Detained American was touring North Korea Flynn: Marty Walsh takes risk seeking residency rule exception Nine busted drinking, arguing, sleeping in Chinatown fracas Carr: Good life on a refugee’s pocketbook Recommended by Join The Conversation View Comments (3 Comments) | Add a Comment http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2014/06/editorial_lying_with_statistics 1/2 6/10/2014 Editorial: Lying with statistics | Boston Herald News & Opinion Sports Entertainment The Inside Track Business About The Herald Classifieds Extras Local Coverage Local Politics Columnists Red Sox & MLB Patriots & NFL Celtics & NBA Arts & Culture Movies Music Celebrity News Real Estate Media & Marketing Automotive Send a News Tip Contact Us Google+ Boston Business Directory Home Delivery Horoscope Lottery Opinion National U.S. Politics Bruins & NHL College Revolution & Soccer Food & Dining Health & Fitness Travel Business & Markets Twitter Facebook International Offbeat News Obituaries Golf Columnists High School Lifestyle Style & Fashion Books Carfind Homefind Jobfind Contest Corner Crossword Weather Log In Television Advertise With Us Purchase Back Copies Send a News Tip Contact Us Home Delivery Electronic Edition Mobile and Apps Herald Newsletters $ave on Boston Herald Home Delivery For back copy and collectible issue information please call 617-619-6265. Click here for Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox, and Bruins back copies © Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Media. No portion of BostonHerald.com or its content may be reproduced without the owner's written permission. Privacy Commitment http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2014/06/editorial_lying_with_statistics 2/2