Mandatory Break Bill

[LizSRN]

In Washington State a bill was put forth to mandate that nurses get their breaks and not be required to do overtime. A state senator in the last minute threw in that nurses can not work more than 8 hours in a 24 hour period in what appears to be an obvious attempt to bust the union and pander to the hospital association as she subsequently voted nay on the bill. What's worse is that on the senate floor she stated that in a critical access hospital nurses "probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day". As we nurses know, no nurse in any setting has that luxury. If a State Senator saying this about our profession makes you as angry as I am please call and let her know. Senator Maureen Walsh 360-786-7630 (attaching video of her stating it on Senate floor) #idontplaycardsisavelives

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2019041186&startStreamAt=546&stopStreamAt=616&autoStartStream=true&fbclid=IwAR2_gbHcoE1j1rFGdIqQ8o8EQRIArgylBAHA3DCizU4urOVuRf_ZRFa_SyA

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

13 hours ago, HelpfulNatureHopeful said:

Nobody should have to work more than 8 hours a day that sounds aweful

You do realize that those who choose (and many do choose, because it fits their outside of work schedule better) to work 10 or 12 hour shifts aren't working 5 days a week? 10 hour shifts work 4 days a week, 12 hour shifts work 3 days a week.

[HelpfulNatureHopeful]

That can’t be good for them. Everyone should do 8 hours. At the end of 8 hours I’m sure their work is getting sloppy.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

22 hours ago, HelpfulNatureHopeful said:

Nobody should have to work more than 8 hours a day that sounds aweful

Well since slavery is illegal in the US no one is forced to work at all!

Hppy

[MunoRN, RN]

On 1/12/2020 at 6:50 PM, HelpfulNatureHopeful said:

Nobody should have to work more than 8 hours a day that sounds aweful

Working 5 nights a week is arguably more awful, there is a reasonable amount of research on this and it's pretty clear that there more risk of fatigue-impaired practice with more shifts per week / fewer recover days (or nights) per week compared to longer shifts.