Legislators have struck a deal to end mandatory overtime for nurses in hospitals and nursing homes, but not in home care, says Newsday:
The leaders agreed to end mandatory overtime for nurses working in hospitals and nursing homes but not in home care, beginning next summer. The move is aimed at encouraging more people to become nurses, addressing a chronic shortage.
Paterson estimated 30 percent of licensed nurses aren't working in the profession - many because of mandatory overtime, which leaves them exhausted and away from their families. "This is an issue of patient care as well as workers' rights," he said.
The nurse's union echoed the safety issue:
"We are extremely excited at the prospect that nurses will no longer be compelled to work beyond the point of safe functioning," said Pat Greenberg of the union's nurse alliance.
Read Newsday's coverage here.
HANYS ultimately supported the bill. From the HANYS press release:
Key provider concerns addressed in the agreement include:
- The definition of an emergency could include an unanticipated staffing emergency.
- The limitations of the legislation would not apply in a case of an ongoing medical or surgical procedure in which the nurse is actively engaged and whose continued presence through the completion of the procedure is needed to ensure the health and safety of the patient.
- Pre-scheduled on-call time will not be considered mandatory overtime.
- The time spent before or after regularly scheduled work hours to communicate shift reports will not be considered mandatory overtime.
- The legislation will focus on regularly scheduled work hours, not on a prescribed number of hours per day or week.
- The agreement will not prohibit voluntary overtime.
Read the HANYS press release here.