PA Nurses, Direct Care Workers Win Big for Patients

It took seven years, but earlier this month, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives joined their Senate colleagues in passing legislation against mandatory overtime for health caregivers. The legislation covers RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, as well as other direct caregivers such as radiology and lab employees.  Governor Rendell signed the bill into law on October 9th.

"This is one big positive step forward for patients and nurses across Pennsylvania," said Kathy Magaro, RN, coordinator of the SEIU Healthcare Nurse Alliance of Pennsylvania. "We had champions in both the House and the Senate, but the real heroes are the nurses and direct patient caregivers who met with legislators again and again to tell them the reality of mandatory overtime and why this ban is so important to them and their patients."

Twelve other states have also passed laws banning mandatory overtime, including neighboring New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.  

Extensive research has demonstrated the link between overtime in health care and medical errors, including a 2004 study by University of Pennsylvania Researcher Ann Rogers finding that the risk of errors increased when nurses worked overtime or worked more than 40 hours per week.  

"I'm so proud of the work our members did all across the state to support this bill," said Neal Bisno, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. “Many nurses in our union already have protection against mandatory overtime in their union contracts, but they reached out again and again to stand up for all patients and caregivers who don’t have the benefits of a union. Because of them, now all nurses and direct caregivers in Pennsylvania are protected.”