Bill > HB465

This bill strengthens protections for nurses who invoke "safe harbor," a process that allows nurses to refuse assignments they believe are unsafe or beyond their competence. Specifically, the bill expands existing law by adding a requirement that any post-occurrence review of a safe harbor invocation must now include an inquiry into whether the nurse experienced any retaliation after invoking safe harbor. The bill also explicitly prohibits health care facilities and their personnel from bullying, retaliating against, demoting, suspending, terminating, disciplining, or reporting to the board of nursing a nurse who makes a good faith safe harbor request. Safe harbor can be invoked when a nurse believes an assignment would expose patients to unjustifiable harm or violate nursing practice standards, or when a nurse questions the medical reasonableness of a healthcare provider's order. The nurse must invoke safe harbor before or during the assignment in question and follow a specific process that includes notifying supervisors, documenting the reasons, and conducting a post-occurrence review with other staff members. The goal of the bill is to protect nurses who are acting in the interest of patient safety by providing them clear legal protections against potential workplace retaliation.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=465&year=25