RESOLUTIONS
| Topic: |
IN SUPPORT OF THE REDUCTION IN THE EXTENSIVE USE OF MANDATORY
OVERTIME IN HEALTH CARE |
| Submitted By: |
Michigan Nursing Students' Association Board of Director |
| Authors: |
Troy Tuggle, Kathy Sharp, Tonya Rosendahl, and Sue Virgil |
| Whereas: |
Although nurses can
notify his/her nursing supervisor if he/she does not feel that safe care
can be provides, the nurse is still legally responsible for any errors
that occur, but the hospital is also liable for negligence (Pietro, J.
1995); and |
| Whereas: |
A compromised nurse may
not be alert enough to detect a subtle change in a patient's condition (Trossman,
S. 1998; ANA, 2000); and |
| Whereas: |
Every day, nurses
in hospitals across the country are forced to work up to 16-hour shifts
thus putting themselves and their patients at increase risk of error and
injury (Nursing Excellence, 200); and |
| Whereas: |
Representative
Tome Lantos (D-CA) has proposed House Resolution 5179, which states "Not
withstanding the foregoing, no licensed health care employee, including
registered nurses but excluding medical doctors, my be required by such
employer to work beyond 8 hours in any work day or 80 hours in any 14 day
work period pursuant to an agreement between the employer and the employee
before performance of work, expect in the case of a natural disaster or
except when a Federal, state or County declaration of a state of emergency
in the county in which the licensed health care employee is employed.
No employer may take action against or otherwise discriminate
against a health care employee fro not working more than 8 hours in a
workday or 80 hours in a 14-day workweek. A licensed health care employee
my voluntarily work beyond 8 hours in any workday." (Lantos, 2000);
therefore, be it |
Resolved: |
that MNSA encourage student nurses to work with the board of
directors of the MNSA to write to state senators and state representatives
about the use of mandatory overtime with in a 80 hour pay period; and be
it further |
| Resolved: |
that MNSA provide a
letter that can be downloaded and sent to state senators and state
representatives via the MNSA web site; and be it further |
| Resolved: |
that MNSA provide information on the MNSA website related to
the topic of mandatory overtime as well as the proposed changes at the
state and national levels; and be it further |
| Resolved: |
that MNSA utilize publications, such as Nurse Talk,
to gather and disseminate information related to the issue of mandatory
overtime; and be it further |
| Resolved: |
that MNSA cooperate with professional nursing organizations
to assist the passage of legislation concerning the issue of mandatory
overtime; and be it further |
| Resolved: |
that MNSA send a copy of this resolution to the Michigan
Nurses' Association and any other organizations appointed by the MNSA
Boards of Directors. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
