In a huge victory for patient safety, the nine justices of the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld nurses’ statutory rights to be paid overtime when their duties prevent them from taking a rest period. In 2007, WSNA brought the legal action on behalf of the 1,200 registered nurses at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (SHMC) in Spokane to recover unpaid wages for denied rest periods.
Research confirms that nurses working long hours have decreased alertness and vigilance which can lead to patient harm. WSNA has been working for several years to ensure that nurses receive full, uninterrupted breaks because that dedicated time to rest can play a critical role in preventing fatigue and fatigue-related errors.
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