Madison – In the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s own words, they do “not believe mandatory overtime is an appropriate, or frequently used routine staffing strategy.”[1] Registered nurses across the state agree that it is not appropriate; however they disagree over how widespread the practice is used.

A recent poll conducted by the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals found that 42% of the nurses have been forced to work overtime at least once a month, with 12% mandated at least once a week.[2] This shows no movement from a similar poll conducted by SEIU in 2004.[3]

“Nurses in Wisconsin are delighted the Wisconsin Hospital Association acknowledges that forced overtime for health care professionals is inappropriate,” stated SEIU Wisconsin President Dian Palmer, RN. “However, patients are being put at risk as this common practice continues.”

Last week, Senator Judy Robson and Representative Sandra Pasch announced legislation that would end mandatory overtime in Wisconsin. Since the mid 1990s, hospitals have increasingly used mandatory overtime as a cost cutting measure. Mandatory overtime is now part of a deliberate strategy in many hospitals to operate with less direct care staff.

“Would you want a nurse to take care of you or your loved one, who has been forced to stay to work because the hospital is having cutbacks?” asked Rebecca Wolfe, an ER nurse at Meriter Hospital.

Nurses, who are mandated more than any other occupational category, are the most important factor in quality acute care. They provide the bulk of patient care and they provide early warning and rapid intervention for critically ill patients. Fatigued nurses are much more likely to make errors, or to miss subtle changes in the condition of patients.