OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE NURSES MAGAZINE®

Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act

The Nurses Magazine® (TNM) supports the Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act and advocates for significant national efforts to mitigate the effects of mandatory overtime on nurses, patients, and the healthcare workforce.

The legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate and House by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), shows a significant bipartisan effort to improve protections for nurses and ensure safer patient care.

The proposed bill aims to prevent healthcare employers from forcing nurses to work past their scheduled shifts, except in true emergencies and specific limited cases. Crucially, it allows nurses to voluntarily work overtime if they are willing and able, without restriction.

At The Nurses Magazine®, we believe this distinction is critical.

Nurses are highly trained professionals responsible for making complex clinical decisions, detecting changes in patient conditions, administering medications, coordinating care, responding to emergencies, educating patients and families, and advocating for those unable to advocate for themselves. These duties demand that nurses be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to deliver safe and effective care.

Fatigue is not simply a workforce issue. It is a patient safety issue.

When nurses regularly work beyond their scheduled hours, fatigue can impair their concentration, clinical judgment, communication, decision-making, and overall health. Prolonged excessive workloads and limited rest can lead to burnout, dissatisfaction, increased absenteeism, and nurses potentially leaving their jobs or the profession entirely.

Mandatory overtime should not become a routine staffing strategy.

Healthcare organizations have a responsibility to develop sustainable workforce models that prioritize appropriate staffing, nurse retention, recruitment, professional development, healthy work environments, and the well-being of the people providing care.

TNM acknowledges that healthcare can be unpredictable, with emergencies, disasters, and sudden patient surges requiring flexibility. Legislation should safeguard nurses from mandatory overtime in normal conditions, while allowing for emergency situations and respecting their right to voluntarily take on extra hours.

The bipartisan leadership of Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) also conveys an important message: safeguarding nurses and patients should go beyond political differences.

Nursing workforce challenges impact communities nationwide. Hospitals, health systems, long-term care facilities, academic institutions, policymakers, professional nursing organizations, and nursing leaders need to collaborate continuously to create sustainable solutions.

The Nurses Magazine® urges nurses and nurse leaders to stay informed and active as the Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act progresses through legislation. We also invite healthcare executives and policymakers to hear directly from nurses, whose bedside experiences offer vital insights into how staffing policies impact patient care.

Our position is clear:

Nurses should not be forced to decide between safeguarding their patients and safeguarding their own health and well-being.

Supporting nurses involves fostering environments where they can work safely, apply their professional judgment, get sufficient rest, and deliver the quality of care that every patient expects.

Protecting nurses helps solidify the nursing workforce. A strong nursing workforce, in turn, enhances healthcare overall. Supporting nurses to practice safely ultimately benefits patients and communities.

The Nurses Magazine®
Amplifying Nurses. Elevating Leadership. Advancing the Profession.