§ 61-3A-2 — Definitions

As used in the Safe Harbor for Nurses Act: A. "assignment" means the designated responsibility for the provision or supervision of nursing care for a defined work period in a defined work setting, including the specified functions, duties, practitioner orders, supervisory directives and amount of work designated as an individual nurse's responsibility; provided that changes in a nurse's assignment may occur at any time during the work period; B. "good faith" means taking action supported by a sincere belief with a reasonable factual or legal basis other than the nurse's moral, religious or personal beliefs; C. "health care facility" means an entity licensed by the department of health that provides health care on its premises and has three or more nurses; D. "nurse" means a nurse licensed pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse; and E. "safe harbor" means a process that: (1) protects a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse from adverse action by the health care facility where the nurse is working when the nurse makes a good faith request to be allowed to reject an assignment, which request is based on the nurse's: (a) assessment of the nurse's own education, knowledge, competence or experience; and (b) immediate assessment of the risk for patient safety or potential violation of the Nursing Practice Act or board of nursing rules; and (2) provides for further assessment of the situation.

Legislative History

Laws 2019, ch. 52, § 2.