Across the nation, nurses are speaking out or "blowing the whistle" against workplace conditions that jeopardize patients and staff. With the restructuring of health care and its cost cutting measures, nurses are frustrated as they try to provide quality patient care while staffing levels, resources and support are often inadequate.

Strong whistleblower laws provide legal protection so nurses can be strong patient advocates without fear of reprisal. Legislation passed this year in OR and WV and introduced in HI, IL, MO, NY, OR, PA and RI prevent employers from taking retaliatory action against any employee including suspension, demotion, harassment or discharge for reporting improper quality of patient care. In addition, NY and OR legislation would prevent employers from retaliatory action against any employee who refused to participate in an activity that poses a risk to the health, safety or welfare of a patient.