A 2004 AFT survey found that 20 percent of practicing nurses are seriously considering leaving the profession in the next five years due to excessive patient loads, mandatory overtime and other unacceptable working conditions. And a recent study by the Pennsylvania School of Nursing discovered that when nurses work in excess of the traditional eight- or 12-hour shifts, the likelihood of committing serious errors in patient care greatly increases. Congress needs to take steps to improve patient care and the environment for nurses by ending mandatory overtime. A ban on forced overtime will result in higher-quality healthcare for patients and help keep nurses from leaving the profession.