Ohio bill to end mandatory nurse OT still needs some tweaking, editorial says

The editorial board at The Blade is calling for "quick attention" by the Ohio General Assembly on a proposed state nurse overtime bill that aims to help combat nurse burnout.

House Bill 144, sponsored by state Rep. Don Manning, would prohibit a hospital from requiring nurses to work overtime as a condition of continued employment, with certain exceptions.

Under the proposal, hospitals would be allowed to require overtime if an on-call schedule is in place, according to the newspaper. Voluntary overtime is also allowed.

On Dec. 7, The Blade's editorial board said the proposal, which remains in the state House, "needs to be enacted but, unless it is amended, it is at best a starting point because it would still permit nurses to be compelled to work excessive consecutive hours if an on-call schedule is posted."  

Mr. Manning said he may amend the proposal prior to the House voting on it, the newspaper reports.

The Ohio Nurses Association supports the measure, arguing that mandatory overtime can result in nurse fatigue and burnout. The Ohio Hospital Association opposes the measure and has advocated for staffing flexibility

To read the full editorial, click here.

 

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