New Nurse OT Laws Start

A state law preventing hospitals and other healthcare facilities from forcing nurses and other direct care workers from working overtime goes into effect July 1. The rule can be ignored in times of “state, city or federal emergency.” It also allows for instances where nurses are involved in a procedure that will take them past their scheduled end of shift. The goal of the legislation was multi fold. Supporters say it protects nurses from having to juggle personal schedules when they are forced to stay after their shift ends, it protects patients from errors that could be made by nurses that have been working too many hours and it helps to attract and retain workers to the industry. Cathy Stoddard is a member of the Service Employees International Union, which represents thousands of nurses statewide. She says there are fears that some hospitals will ignore the new law. The union has been meeting with nurses across the state to educate them about their rights. She says this does not mean nurses will walk off the floor at the end of their shift even if there is no one to take care of the patients but she says that does not have to be the only two choices. Stoddard works at Allegheny General Hospital. Thanks to terms of the contract it has with its burses, that hospital has been living with out forced overtime for the last 6 years. She says it takes a great deal of advanced planning and cooperation between the hospital and nurses but she says if a level one trauma center can do this any hospital can. Fines of up to $1,000 can be levied per instance. It does not prevent voluntary overtime. 14 other states have similar laws on the books.