Working double shifts endangers patients
Nurses storm Capitol, tell lawmakers: Pass overtime bill

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Backed-up by 600 cheering nurses, PEF President Roger Benson stood on the steps of the state Capitol and told the governor and legislators the time has come to stop talking about legislation to end mandatory overtime and act on it.

The bill (A.1199/S.169) would limit mandatory overtime for nurses and provide safe staffing levels in state health care facilities. Ten other states already have enacted similar laws.

The May 2 event — Nurses’ Lobby Day — brought union members from PEF, New York State United Teachers, Service Employees International Union 1199 and New York State Nurses Association to Albany to speak with a unified voice.

“This is solidarity at its finest,” Benson said, who spearheaded PEF’s first nurses’ rally in 2001. “There were 15 people when we started this movement. Each year, we said we would be back. Now we have hundreds here. This is just wonderful.”

Statewide problem
The nurses wore black T-shirts that read “Condition Critical, Save NY Nurses,” and waved bright red signs while chanting, ”Hey, hey, ho, ho, mandatory overtime has to go!”

The nurses flocked to Albany from all corners of the state because mandatory overtime is taking a physical and mental toll on them.

Some fear excessive fatigue will cause them to make medical errors. Others talked about their concern for the safety of their patients and wanting more time to be caregivers and healers.

JOHNSTOWN TO ALBANY — Three PEF nurses from the Tyron Residential Facility for youth — Diane Hammond, Chrissy Sainato and Janine Rorick — test their megaphones before the start of the nurses rally. They came from Johnstown as advocates for the children who are their patients. — Photo by Deborah A. Miles

Three PEF Region 6 nurses from the Tryon Residential Facility for youth in Johnstown said it’s time nurses took a stand.

“I’m here because the administration has unreasonable expectations of what nursing is,” said Chrissy Sainato. “I came as an advocate for the children who are my patients. I want to improve the conditions we are working under, so they can have better care.”

“The overtime has to stop,” said Diane Hammond. “The legislators need to understand in order for nurses to do their jobs properly, to give the care they want to give, they need more staff.”

Janine Rorick added, “Some of the nurses mandated to work on weekends are also mandated to do double shifts.”
Being forced to work double shifts is happening throughout the state.

Steven Willis, a PEF Region 9 nurse at Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center, said, “I’d like to be able to drive home and see the white line on the right, and not be awakened by the rumble strip after working a double shift.”

”Not passing the overtime bill and signing it into law is short-term thinking,” Willis said. “The focus should be on recruitment and retention.”|

Region 9 RN Barbara Weber - Photo by John Epting

Will lawmakers act?
Lawmakers who attended the rally said they agreed.

“Legislatively, we have to get things done,” said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. “We are going to partner with your leadership to get the results you demand and for the people in this state to stay well.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver echoed the concerns of the nurses and labor leaders, and said the Assembly has scheduled a May 18 public hearing on the issue.

“New York nurses are overburdened, over extended, over stressed, underpaid, under staffed, under appreciated and under siege. It’s not fair to you or your patients,” Silver said. “It’s no way to run a health care system.”

He said if the federal government would increase Medicaid reimbursements for the state, New York would have $4.5 billion more in its’ coffers to address the problem.

“Imagine how we could improve staffing ratios,” Silver said. “There would be money for nursing scholarships, loan forgiveness. Nurses would receive what is fitting.”

The bill’s sponsors, Sen. Thomas Morahan and Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, both said a statewide policy is needed to get results.

“Nurses are being treated like a replaceable part in a machine,” Nolan said. “They need to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Deborah Egel, a co-chair of the PEF Nurses Committee, ended the rally with some food for thought for lawmakers.

“Nursing is the backbone of the health care industry. Why are we treated like the tailbone?” Egel asked. “If the legislators don’t pass the bill, let’s send them home. This is an election year.”

DOWN TO BUSINESS — Nurses from PEF, the Service Employees International Union, American Federation of Teachers and NYS Nurses Association sit down with legislators and their aides to talk about a bill to restrict mandatory overtime. — Photo by Richard Dillard


BETWEEN CHEERS — Nurses listen intently to lawmakers as they vow to take steps to limit mandatory overtime. — Photo by Deborah A. Miles
 

The Communicator June 2006

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