Nurse Overtime and Patient Safety Act

This bill says that hospitals and certain other healthcare providers that participate in Medicare must follow rules limiting how much overtime nurses can be required to work. Nurses could not be forced to work more than 48 hours in a week, more than 12 hours in a row, or beyond their scheduled shift, and they must get at least 10 hours off after working a 12-hour shift. These limits would not apply during declared emergencies or disasters, and nurses could still choose to work overtime voluntarily. The bill also protects nurses who report violations, requires providers to keep records and give notices, and allows penalties for providers who break the rules.

Your Vote