Practice Tip of the Week | Safe Harbor – A Positive Outlook

By Serena Bumpus, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Since the early stages of COVID-19, TNA has worked hard to educate nurses on the safe harbor protections afforded to them in Texas. We have learned, however, that safe harbor has taken on a negative tone over the years and is not viewed in a positive manner. During these unprecedented times, nurse leaders should empower their nurses and encourage them to invoke safe harbor should unsafe situations arise. Nurses should not fear retaliation for invoking safe harbor. There are advocacy protections in place to protect the nurse from being retaliated against and no one should feel intimidated or guilty for invoking safe harbor if done in good faith. As a reminder, we are sharing some of our previous articles on safe harbor, when it is appropriate to invoke and the process for invoking.

The TNA Practice line is available to all nurses for your nursing practice-related questions. Please feel free to call 512-452-0645 ext. 132. We do try and return calls within 24 hours, however due to the large increase in the number of phone calls we are receiving, we do ask for your patience and to anticipate a delay. Calls are prioritized based on urgency and need.

If you are being denied your right to invoke safe harbor, you may report your supervisor or CNO to the Board of Nursing. Nurse leaders are responsible for knowing their duty under the Nursing Practice Act and ensuring your legal protections.

Previous Articles on Safe Harbor

• Practice Tip of the Week | Legal Protections for Nurses: Safe Harbor Nursing Peer Review
• Safe Harbor – More than Staffing
• Safe Harbor and Resilience - What Nurses Need to Know About COVID-19
• Practice Tip of the Week: Safe Staffing
• Saving Lives is Not a Card Game
• Practice Tip of the Week: Nursing Peer Review
• Practice Tip of the Week: Escalating patient care issues and the Chain of Resolution