It's been seven years in the making, but on Wednesday, Pennsylvania state legislation against mandatory overtime for nurses and healthcare workers passed its last hurdle on its way to the Governor's desk. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a concurrence vote on House Bill 834, accepting amendments made in the Senate. Governor Rendell signed the bill into law yesterday, October 9th.

Nurses and other healthcare workers cheered from the gallery as the vote was announced. This victory is the culmination of a 7-year struggle by nurses and other healthcare workers who repeatedly marched, called, emailed and lobbied their legislators to support this important patient safety legislation. Beginning July 1st, 2009 - except in cases of true emergencies - mandatory overtime will be a thing of the past for any healthcare worker providing direct patient care.

"This is one big positive step forward for patients and nurses across Pennsylvania," said Kathy Magaro, RN. "We had champions in both the House and the Senate, but the real heroes are the nurses and other direct patient caregivers who met with legislators again and again to tell them the reality of mandatory overtime and why this ban is so important to them and their patients."
This is an incredible victory for Pennsylvania caregivers and their patients. When the law takes effect on July 1st, no nurse providing direct patient care will be forced to work overtime except in the case of a true emergency or unforeseen event. Nurses and other caregivers will no longer have to worry about making mistakes or falling asleep while driving home because we had to work over our regularly scheduled shift.

What an amazing moment for Pennsylvania and the future of health care.