Madison – Registered nurses gathered at the state capitol today to testify on SB 512 which looks to ban mandatory overtime for health care professionals in Wisconsin.

While mandatory overtime had been traditionally used only during extreme emergencies, an increasing number of hospitals now use it as a regular practice to fill permanent holes in their staffing schedules. The dramatic deterioration of working conditions has driven many nurses out of the profession, and many others into non-direct care settings.

“Mandatory overtime is dangerous for patients. Fatigued nurses are much more likely to make errors, or to miss subtle changes in the condition of patients. Nobody wants a sleepy nurse,” stated Dian Palmer, a Registered Nurse and President of SEIU Healthcare District 1199 in Wisconsin.

Hospitals across the country regularly blame the shortage of nurses for staffing deficiencies, but in reality, there is more often a shortage of nurses willing to work in hospitals.

The SEIU health care professionals testified to the Senate Committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs. The bill is sponsored by Senator Judy Robson and Representative Chuck Benedict.