Ohio legislators are considering a bill to end mandatory nurse overtime to help combat nurse burnout, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
If House Bill 144 passes, Ohio will join 18 other states that have ended mandatory nurse overtime, including California, New York, Texas and West Virginia.
Over half of all U.S. clinicians have symptoms of burnout, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Managed Care. A 2018 study found over half of nurses report "suboptimal physical and mental health," with symptoms including irritability, cynicism and exhaustion.
Working overtime is one of several factors causing burnout. The problem is further exacerbated by the increased time performing administrative tasks, which takes time away from direct patient care.