New measure would protect nurses who report problems

Scott Reeder

Tuesday, May 25, 1999 | 11:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nurses and other health care professionals should be able to report shortcomings in medical care without fear that they will be retaliated against by their employers.

That's the contention of those backing legislation introduced Monday in the Legislature.

Senate Bill 549 was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas.

"There has been a need for this type of legislation for quite some time," Titus said. "I see this primarily as a bill to protect nurses. Unlike doctors, nurses generally are employees of the hospital and are more vulnerable to retaliation."

Titus said the legislation would allow health care workers to file complaints with the Nevada Health Department without fear of retribution. The bill also would protect workers who report problems to the media.

"Right now, the bill protects people who go to the media," Titus said. "I wouldn't be surprised if that provision is taken out as part of a compromise. We want this bill to pass."

Titus introduced the bill as an "emergency measure," which means it is exempt from the usual deadlines for introducing legislation. But it must be approved by both houses of the Legislature before May 31 in order to become law.

"I have some problems with the bill," Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, said. "I think there is the potential it could be used by employees to retaliate against their employers or against fellow employees. People could file false claims as a means of harassing them."

The bill would require that the name of the person filing the complaint be kept confidential.

"I have been a nurse for 45 years and I think this is a good bill," Barbara Bowes of Reno said. "During my years of nursing I have seen nurses retaliated against when they brought bad practices to light. It is usually done in a very subtle manner. But they try to push the nurse out of the organization."

The Senate Human Resources Committee was expected to vote on the bill today.

The late introduction of the legislation was problematic for some senators, but Titus said the legislation is relatively clear-cut.