“The decriminalization of nurses is very important in regard to our practice.”; HB 159 passes on Nurse’s Day

Frankfort, Ky.  (WTVQ) — On Thursday, hundreds of nurses and nursing students were at the capitol to see the passing of House Bill 159.

This bill ensuring nurses aren’t leaving the field for fear of being criminally charged for making a medical error.

“The decriminalization of nurses is very important in regard to our practice, because we’re there to care for patients,” said APRN Joy Coles. “The institute of medicine had shared research and established that to err is really truly human. And so, to say that we would go without any error would truly be misinformed.”

The bill, which passed unanimously, focuses on protecting those who work directly with patients and looking at their intent when a mistake is made.

Coles adds that not criminally charging nurses when a mistake is made, helps with reporting those mistakes.

Along with watching the house vote on Bill 159, nurses and nursing students were there advocating for the needs of their patients and themselves.

“So what we’re really all here for is to help people, because at the end of the day every Kentucky citizen is a patient,” said BSN & RN Ellen Tinker. “Whether not today, it could be tomorrow, so this is an issue that should be close to everybody’s heart.”

Gov. Beshear also spoke on Thursday.

“So Gov. Beshear came today to speak to us and to speak on the nurses efforts through the global pandemic and where we are to go from there,” said nursing student Madalyn Wilburn. “And how it set a precedent for future nurses, such as myself, and how Kentucky is going to support us in the future.”

Nurses hope the passing of the bill will help with the shortage of nurses in the state of Kentucky.