Contemporary Health Issue
Contemporary Health Issue 1
Contemporary Health Issue Part II: Mandatory Overtime
Contemporary Health Issue 2
The Legislative Process Behind Limiting Mandatory Overtime
Introduction
Nurses of the 21 century are expected to act quickly and appropriately when confronted with various complex clinical situations in this competitive healthcare market. Nurses cannot do so if they lack the fundamental knowledge of the regulations and statutes that have been established by their particular State Board of Nursing and the government. Therefore, it is imperative that the nurses have a solid understanding of the legislative process, as it could affect the way in which he/she delivers quality patient care. This paper will discuss the steps in the legislative process in regard to the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005, detail history of similar types of legislation, and note the stand various healthcare organizations have taken on the issue of mandatory overtime.
The Legislative Process The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005, bill S. 351 and H.R. 791, was proposed with the intent to "improve working conditions for nurses and quality of care for patients. It limits the ability of hospitals and other healthcare providers to require mandatory overtime from nurses." This is a process that does not happen overnight. So the question arises, what is the process of introducing bill to legislative bodies and once introduced how do they become law? According the website www.genome.gov , there are potentially 10 steps a bill can go
Contemporary Health Issue 3 through before becoming a law. The following quotation includes excerpts taken from the website
Step 1: A bill is born- Anyone can draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so become the sponsor(s).
Step 2: Committee Action- Once the bill is introduced; it is then referred to committee. The bill is then examined carefully and its chances for
Contemporary Health Issue Part II: Mandatory Overtime
Contemporary Health Issue 2
The Legislative Process Behind Limiting Mandatory Overtime
Introduction
Nurses of the 21 century are expected to act quickly and appropriately when confronted with various complex clinical situations in this competitive healthcare market. Nurses cannot do so if they lack the fundamental knowledge of the regulations and statutes that have been established by their particular State Board of Nursing and the government. Therefore, it is imperative that the nurses have a solid understanding of the legislative process, as it could affect the way in which he/she delivers quality patient care. This paper will discuss the steps in the legislative process in regard to the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005, detail history of similar types of legislation, and note the stand various healthcare organizations have taken on the issue of mandatory overtime.
The Legislative Process The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005, bill S. 351 and H.R. 791, was proposed with the intent to "improve working conditions for nurses and quality of care for patients. It limits the ability of hospitals and other healthcare providers to require mandatory overtime from nurses." This is a process that does not happen overnight. So the question arises, what is the process of introducing bill to legislative bodies and once introduced how do they become law? According the website www.genome.gov , there are potentially 10 steps a bill can go
Contemporary Health Issue 3 through before becoming a law. The following quotation includes excerpts taken from the website
Step 1: A bill is born- Anyone can draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so become the sponsor(s).
Step 2: Committee Action- Once the bill is introduced; it is then referred to committee. The bill is then examined carefully and its chances for
References: How a bill becomes a law. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on August 17, 2006, from www.genome.gov . Mandatory Overtime: A Statement from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on August 17, 2006, from www.aacn.org Opposition to Mandatory Overtime. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on August 17, 2006, from www.nursingworld.org . Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2005. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on August 17, 2006, from www.thomas.loc.gov . State Legislation to Limit Mandatory Overtime. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on August 17, 2006, from www.seiu.org .