John Kerry: “every American who has ever visited a hospital knows that nurses are on the front lines of our health care system. Our…”

“every American who has ever visited a hospital knows that nurses are on the front lines of our health care system. Our Nation's nurses treat patients, work with doctors, and perform complex duties critical to providing care to all patients. For these reasons, I am joining Senator Kennedy in introducing the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act. I have done so for the last three sessions of Congress and will continue to do so until this vital legislation is enacted. At the heart of the bill is the belief that nurses should not be forced to work beyond their ability to offer exemplary care to patients. Mandatory overtime requires nurses, given very short notice to work excessive hours in our hospitals and other institutions that provide health care services. Nurses are left with no recourse when mandatory overtime is applied. They continue treating patients, despite fatigue in many instances, impacting the delivery of care to patients. It is time that we answer the call made by nurses from across the Nation to immediately address this issue.”