A lawmaker from the state of Washington infuriates nurses by saying that some spend a lot of time playing cards

A lawmaker in Washington State angered nursing professionals after stating that some nurses "played cards" during a "considerable" portion of their work.

State Senator Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, was discussing Tuesday a bill that would impose meal breaks and uninterrupted breaks on nurses and also provide them with mandatory protection against overtime.

Walsh lobbied for an amendment that would exclude hospitals with fewer than 25 beds from the provision, arguing that such small facilities are struggling to provide 24-hour care in the state.

"I would submit to you that these nurses (small hospitals) probably have breaks," Walsh said, according to The Olympian. "They are probably playing cards for a considerable amount of the day."

Walsh's remarks were posted on a Washington State Nurses Association blog, receiving so many hits that the site collapsed.

The poorly received comments have also inspired many taunts on social media; hashtags #maureenwalsh and #nursesplaycards have become viral.

Walsh's comments even elicited reactions from actress Kathy Griffin, who said her mother had worked in a hospital for decades.

The bill specifically requires nurses and other staff members, such as surgical technologists and diagnostic radiologists, to have uninterrupted meal and rest periods, except in the case of unforeseen circumstances.

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If a break is interrupted before 10 full minutes, an additional break of 10 minutes is required. The measure would also prohibit health facilities from using what the nursing association considers a legal loophole to require overtime.

The bill was finally passed with the amendment of Walsh. Previously, it had been adopted without the House, but both bills would have to be reconciled before they could be promulgated.

Associated Press contributed to this report.