Unsafe Staffing Could Cost Hospitals Their Accreditation | JCAHO’s New 2026 Standards Explained

Unsafe staffing could cost hospitals their accreditation — literally.
In this powerful episode of Nurses Out Loud, Jodi O’Malley, MSN RN, and Suzi Eichinger, RN, break down the Joint Commission’s (JCAHO) new 2026 National Performance Goals that finally make nurse staffing a national compliance issue.
For the first time, hospitals will be held accountable for proving they have adequate, competent nursing staff on duty 24/7 — or risk losing accreditation.
Jodi and Suzi explore:
What the new JCAHO 2026 standards actually require

Why this marks a major shift toward accountability and measurable outcomes

The decades-long fight for safe nurse-to-patient ratios

Lessons from California’s staffing laws and the impact on patient safety

The urgent need for cultural change in healthcare leadership

How nurses can use these new standards to advocate for safer workplaces

💡 Key takeaway:
Unsafe staffing doesn’t just cost lives — under JCAHO’s 2026 rules, it could cost hospitals their accreditation.
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🎧 Listen as Jodi and Suzi discuss the future of nursing, the power of advocacy, and why this new era demands moral courage from every nurse.