It'll only make matters worse. I'm reminded of that old precaution as I look at a new bill pending in the Senate. In this case, the Senate's plan to douse a fire could blow up in your face and jeopardize the healthcare of millions of New Jerseyans. But his latest idea, Senate Bill 2093, is an example of good intentions gone awry. This bill would prohibit hospitals from requiring nurses and many other healthcare workers to work overtime during periods of short staffing.
Legislators say it's a matter of quality.
I wonder if anyone has really thought this matter through. If they had, they would recognize that mandatory OT must be available as a final resort to ensure that patients are cared for. New Jersey and the entire nation are in the grips of an unprecedented nursing shortage. There's not a single hospital in this state that wouldn't like to hire more nurses. The reality is that they're flat-out not available.