Stop Mandatory Overtime and Improve Working Conditions for Nurses

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I am writing today because I am deeply concerned about the all too common practice of forcing our nation's nurses to perform mandatory overtime and to work in healthcare facilities that are inadequately staffed. I believe that the shortage of nurses in this country will continue or worsen, and the quality of healthcare decline, unless working conditions for nurses improve.

A recent survey conducted by AFT Healthcare, the healthcare division of the American Federation of Teachers found that 20 percent of practicing nurses are seriously considering leaving the profession in the next five years. The reasons cited were excessive patient loads, mandatory overtime and other unacceptable working conditions. However, nurses did report that they would stay--and those who have left the profession would return--if staffing levels were improved, mandatory overtime banned and salaries raised.

The routine use of mandatory overtime to compensate for inadequate staffing contributes significantly to nurses' frustration and a lower quality of healthcare. Several bills in Congress address these issues. Sens. John Kerry (D- Mass.) and Edward Kennedy (D- Mass.) have introduced legislation (S.1842) that prohibits hospitals from requiring nurses to work overtime, except in cases of a government-declared state of emergency. The bill also allows nurses voluntarily to work a reasonable number of overtime hours if the nurses believe they are able to adequately and professionally perform their duties. H.R. 2122, introduced by Reps. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) and Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) is identical legislation that also should be supported.

I urge you to co-sponsor these bills to end mandatory overtime, and work to pass them. Their enactment will result in better healthcare for patients nationwide.

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