The bill amends Section 61-3A-3 of the New Mexico Nursing Practice Act to enhance protections for nurses who invoke safe harbor. It allows nurses to request safe harbor not only before engaging in an assignment but also at any point during their work period if they believe a change in assignment poses a risk to patient safety or violates nursing standards. The bill mandates that health care facilities establish a clear process for invoking safe harbor, which includes notifying staff, documenting the invocation, and conducting a post-occurrence review that now specifically inquires about any perceived retaliation against the nurse.

Additionally, the bill introduces new protections against retaliation for nurses who make good faith requests for safe harbor. It explicitly prohibits health care facilities and their personnel from bullying, demoting, suspending, terminating, or discriminating against nurses who invoke safe harbor, as well as from reporting such actions to the board of nursing. These changes aim to create a safer and more supportive environment for nurses to advocate for patient safety without fear of negative repercussions.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 61-3A-3