1.   The legislation also has the support of health care worker unions, nurses associations, the American Hospital Association and needle manufacturers.

2.   The nurses association argues that minimum staffing levels would improve conditions for both patients and nurses, making the profession more attractive in the midst of an unprecedented shortage.

3.   Things have been quiet since then, said Karen Ballard, director of nursing practice for the nurses association.

4.   --The American Nurses Association voted in June to create a new entity to support collective bargaining efforts by state nurse associations.

5.   The stress leads to burnout, said Judith Robinson, director of the school nurses association.