States Slowly Banning Mandatory Overtime for Nurses
Relinquishing the practice of mandatory overtime for nurses continues to take time. Pennsylvania legislature is now chewing over legislation that would prohibit healthcare organizations from instituting mandatory overtime for nurses and other direct patient care providers. Interestingly enough physicians are not included in the bill. As I have often stated, nurses provide the vast majority of care to patients and physicians do not. Perhaps this is the reason for the exclusion. This is not meant as a put down to my fellow colleagues, it is just how things are.
Earlier this year New York nurses won a huge victory when mandatory overtime was outlawed, but many states still allow this very common practice. I have spoken out against such employments of nurses on several occasions on my blog (Healthcare Today) and elsewhere. Admittedly I may come across as having a bias in this matter but I will tell you that after working for eight or more hours caring for patients in any kind of clinical setting you’re physically drained and mentally exhausted. On top of that there is a large body of research that supports the fact that there is increased risk and liability that nurses take on when working extended hours. These same studies also show higher rates of preventable errors committed by nurses that work 12 to 16 hour shifts. Finally the implementation of mandatory overtime to fill scheduling short falls is in direct violation of the Joint Commission safety goals.
So why with all the data to support not using mandatory overtime except in times of emergency – natural disaster – do healthcare organizations utilize such policies? I have several thoughts on this matter what are yours?
About the Author
Mike Pringle is the creator of Healthcare Today, where he provides his perspective on various Healthcare issues. He has over 20 years of nursing experience working both domestically and internationally. He specializes in both Emergency and Critical Care Nursing. Mike has held positions ranging from department staff and Nurse Manager to Executive positions.
