Mandated Protected Time for Nurses and Health Professionals for In Services and Mentorship

WHEREAS, nurses and health professionals are required to complete ongoing education, competencies and eLearning modules to maintain safe, evidence‑based practice; and

WHEREAS, completing mandatory education while simultaneously caring for patients jeopardizes patient safety, increases cognitive load and undermines learning; and

WHEREAS, many employers require nurses and health professionals to complete in‑services and eLearning on their own time, during breaks or while managing a patient assignment, creating unsafe conditions and inequitable access to education; and 

WHEREAS, protected, paid education time is essential to ensure nurses and health professionals can learn effectively, maintain competencies and uphold professional standards; and

WHEREAS, structured mentorship and preceptor support are critical to nurse and health professional retention, clinical development and safe onboarding:

RESOLVED, that the AFT will advocate for mandated, employer‑provided, protected, paid time for all nurses and health professionals to complete required in‑services, competencies and eLearning modules while not responsible for a patient assignment, ensuring that education does not jeopardize patient care or nurse well‑being; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with employers to ensure that:

• Mandatory education is scheduled during work hours or as hospital business paid time;
• Nurses and health professionals are relieved of patient care responsibilities during education time without decreasing patient care, safety or treatments; and
• Staffing plans account for protected education time without increasing workload for remaining staff; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will advocate for structured mentorship and preceptor programs that include:

• Dedicated, protected time for mentors and mentees;
• Workload adjustments to support safe, effective teaching; and
• Recognition and compensation for mentorship responsibilities; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will support collective bargaining proposals, institutional policies and legislation that guarantee protected education time, strengthen mentorship structures and ensure that nurses and health professionals can maintain competencies without compromising patient safety.

Adopted July 19, 2026