A bill to protect nurse whistleblowers signed into law by Gov. Perry

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

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:

[color=#333333][color=#333333]"this would be a true implosion for the nursing profession, because nurses might think twice about what they report," said gwen agabatekwe, a nurse who flew from st. david medical center in austin to sit in on the pretrial hearings on the case.

[color=#333333]"if they see something that's not right or unsound or unsafe, it's our obligation to report it," said the 54-year-old who is a member of the national nurses organizing committee-texas, which sponsored the whistle-blower legislation.

http://abcnews.go.com/wn/texas-nurse-whistleblower-anne-mitchell-acquitted-harassing-doctor/story?id=9781119

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
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Specializes in Step-Down.

I am happy this bill passed. Now if there was only a bill for nurse to patient ratios I would be very happy.

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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.

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I am just impressed that the Gov can spell his name and write, much more than I had expected.....

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

There is already a federal "whistle blowing" protection lawe on the books and this affects Texas alone.

I'd rather see violent acts against medical personel have legislation that it's a crminal offense to assault nurses in the hospital as it is for medics, EMT's firefighters and police.

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.
I am happy this bill passed. Now if there was only a bill for nurse to patient ratios I would be very happy.

:yeah: Agreed

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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.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

TEXT OF THE LAW - http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/SB00192F.pdf#navpanes=0

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