IOM panel recommends changes to nursing work hours, environment A report released today by an Institute of Medicine panel recommends work hour limits and other changes to the work environment for nurses to strengthen patient safety. The report proposes limiting nurses' working hours to less than 60 hours per week and 12 hours in any 24-hour period. It also recommends health care organizations reduce their use of temporary nursing staff, invest more in training and continuing education for nurses, and increase nurses' role in management and decision-making. The panel says regulators and health care leaders also should work to reduce workplace inefficiencies, such as excessive paperwork and documentation, which reduce the time nurses have to spend with patients. Pamela Thompson, CEO of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, said the report "highlights some important areas that we've already begun to address. Hospital and nurse leaders are working to redesign the work environment -- through technology, training and retention efforts -- to better support nurses as they work to deliver quality care to patients." AONE is the AHA's nursing affiliate.