The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SB 195 Original 2022 Regular Session Hewitt
Proposed law provides that a nurse may invoke safe harbor if the nurse lacks the basic knowledge,
skills, or abilities necessary to deliver nursing care that is safe and that meets the minimum standards
of care to such an extent that accepting the assignment would expose one or more patients to an
unjustifiable risk of harm or would constitute a violation of the law or rules promulgated by the La.
State Board of Nursing. Proposed law also allows a nurse to invoke safe harbor if the nurse questions
the medical reasonableness of another healthcare provider's order that the nurse is required to
execute.
Proposed law requires a nurse to invoke safe harbor before engaging in the conduct or assignment
giving rise to the nurse's request for safe harbor.
Proposed law requires all licensed healthcare facilities using the services of nurses to develop a
process by which a nurse employed or contracted by that facility may invoke safe harbor. Proposed
law provides for the minimum content of the safe harbor process.
Proposed law prohibits a healthcare facility from retaliating against, demoting, suspending,
terminating, disciplining, or discriminating against a nurse or reporting any action to the Louisiana
State Board of Nursing when the nurse makes a good faith request for safe harbor.
Effective August 1, 2022.
(Adds R.S. 37:936 and R.S. 40:2009.13.1)