Published
I am happy this bill passed. Now if there was only a bill for nurse to patient ratios I would be very happy.
It'll come. It will take time and building more strength, but it will come. Even this bill took more hard work to pass than the final numbers look like. Good legislation like this doesn't just happen - it happens becsause committed people work hard to make it happen. And, bit by bit, organizaed nurses are developing the strenght in more places to pass laws like this, and even ratio laws - which are a tougher fight.
While I'm happy to see any legal protection for the whistleblower, the fact is that most laws, including this one, are woefully inadequate. There are very few states in which the laws do not favor the status quo substantially. In fact, I'd go so far as to say in 95% of cases, the downside for those who try to expose wrongdoing is very much greater than any penalty that is - usually reluctantly - imposed on the wrongdoer.
The sad fact is that the whistleblower is the one at risk and in almost all cases, the one who suffers a substantial loss.
herring_RN, ASN, BSN
3,651 Posts
on june 17, 2011 texas governor rick perry signed an excellent nurse whistleblower bill sb 192 for into law. - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/history.aspx?legsess=82r&bill=sb192
text of the bill - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/billlookup/text.aspx?legsess=82r&bill=sb192
house vote was 142 yeas, 0 nays, 1 present, not voting
senate vote was 30 yeas, 0 nays (viva voce vote)
nurses in texas have been working several years to achieve this:
january 2011 - http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-heels-of-nurses-legendary-lone-star-rebellion-union-organizing-drive-texas-rns-gather-at-legislatures-opening-day-to-plan-patient-safety-agenda-113218239.html