California nurses hope the fourth time's the charm for a bill that would require hospitals to have safe lift teams available at all times. Governor Schwarzenegger, a former weight lifter, has vetoed the last three versions of the measure. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
Under the bill, hospitals would have to provide special equipment and lift teams to help nurses move patients.
Nurse Geri Jenkins has worked at UCSD Medical Center for 30 years. She says nurses are in constant danger of hurting their backs.
Jenkins : And it can end your career. It can truly end your ability to earn a living if you hurt your back or throw your neck out. And that happens all the time. In fact, we have a higher incidence of muscular-skeletal injuries than construction workers do.
The California Hospital Association says it supports safe lifting practices. But the group says it's not fair to impose another mandate on hospitals when so many are struggling financially.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
