Establishes the "Missouri Hospital Patient Protection Act"

This bill establishes the Missouri Hospital Patient Protection Act to set minimum staffing requirements for registered nurses in hospitals across the state. It defines specific patient-to-nurse ratios that must be maintained at all times in various units, such as critical care, emergency departments, and labor and delivery areas, based on the acuity of patient care needed. The legislation also clarifies roles by distinguishing between direct care nurses who provide hands-on treatment and ancillary staff who support care delivery, while ensuring that triage and administrative duties do not count toward these staffing levels. Additionally, the bill mandates that every patient be assigned a direct care nurse responsible for creating and managing individualized nursing care plans in coordination with the patient and other medical staff.