State Sen. Jeff Irwin is backing a bill passed by the Michigan Senate that would limit when hospitals can require nurses to work beyond their scheduled shifts.
The bill package passed April 15 and now moves to the Michigan House.
In a post after the vote, Irwin said hospitals should not rely on overworked nurses to fill routine staffing needs.
“Routine use of forced overtime is dangerous for patients, reduces the quality of care, and drives away great nurses,” Irwin wrote.
Under Senate Bill 296, hospitals could not require a registered nurse to work beyond scheduled or on-call hours except in limited situations, including a declared state of emergency, a mass casualty incident or when a medical or surgical procedure cannot safely be interrupted.
The bill would also require eight consecutive hours off after a nurse works 12 or more consecutive hours unless the nurse voluntarily waives that rest period.
The bill says an emergency does not include one caused by a labor dispute or by consistent understaffing in the hospital.
It also says a hospital could not discipline or discriminate against a nurse for refusing an assignment that would violate the law’s overtime limits.
A companion bill, Senate Bill 297, would make related changes to Michigan’s hospital code and tie the overtime rules to hospital oversight and enforcement.
Supporters say the legislation would help reduce fatigue and improve patient care.
Opponents, including hospital groups, have argued that hospitals need flexibility to respond to staffing shortages and other unpredictable situations.
Irwin also said in comments on his post that he has long supported nurse staffing ratio legislation, describing it as a bigger change than the overtime bill.
Featured image: The Michigan Senate voting board shows final passage of Senate Bill 296 on April 15. State Sen. Jeff Irwin voted yes. Photo courtesy of Sen. Jeff Irwin
114 North Main St Suite 10 Chelsea, MI 48118
