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Spring 2001 RNs Demand Safe Staffing… Now! UAN’s staffing
crisis visibility campaign hits stride from coast to coast — .…patients and nurses are at risk in today’s hospitals
…nurses are committed to making hospitals safe …UAN
is a strong new voice for America’s nurses… just
days from now, UAN, CMAs and nurses everywhere join forces
to call a halt to staffing practices that put patients and
nurses at risk. Campaign buttons, pins, posters, banners and
brochures for patients have been distributed to CMAs. Plans
have been made for candlelight vigils, rallies, lobby days
and other activities. Media kits, news releases, media advisories
and op eds have been sent. Now it’s time to put all the
preparation into action. It’s time to raise our voices
and New York Times Gives Registered Nurses, Staffing Crisis, Page One Coverage “Nurses, hospital executives and health
care experts say that a shortage of In the Times article, UAN Director Susan Bianchi-Sand
is quoted as saying, “Wages are always an issue, but
they are not the principal issue. Safe staffing and the quality
of patient care are higher Sisters and Brothers — This year, for National Nurses Week, let’s skip the cake and pass up the platitudes. Instead, let’s put up the posters, sign the petitions, hand out safe staffing tips to patients, families and media and blow the whistle on management that wrings their hands over a staffing crisis of their own making. Demanding an end to unsafe, life-threatening, career-ending staffing practices is the best way I can think of to observe National Nurses Week in 2001. There’ll be time and reason enough for celebration when we’ve made hospitals safe again. In Solidarity, Workplace Safety Setback In tossing out the new OSHA ergonomics standard that had just gone into effect in January, Congress and the Administration nullified a safety rule providing important protection for nurses and other workers. Expect more back injuries and fewer workplace safety protections for nurses. Staffing Survey No Surprise for RNs UAN Vice Chair Ann Converso told reporters at the February release of ANA’s 2001 Staffing Survey the public has every reason to be alarmed by the results. 75% of the 7,300 nurses responding said the quality of care has declined and 70% cited inadequate staffing as the big reason. “Today, patients and nurses are at risk. That’s not just unacceptable,” said Converso. “It’s an outrage.” Converso outlined UAN demands for safe staffing and state and federal legislation to back up those demands. “We must improve nurses working conditions,” said ANA President Mary Foley, who presented the survey results. DCNA member and Critical Care Unit nurse Nona Campbell described real-life working conditions and Becky Hartman of Wichita, Kan., told how inadequate staffing left her mother paralyzed. Editorial UAN Activist Phone: 202.651.7000 © 2001 United American Nurses. Winners 400-plus RNs at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, N.J., have chosen NYSNA to represent them – for NYSNA an historic first collective bargaining agreement outside New York. Kudos also to NYNSA on unanimous passage of whistleblower legislation in both houses of the New York state legislature…and boos to Governor Pataki, who declined to sign it — again! Oregon and Michigan ONA enlisted the support of Oregon House speaker Mark Simmons to introduce a strong measure for state regulation of hospital nurse staffing. RNs at Michigan’s Lapeer Regional Hospital won a mid-term contract wage increase over and above a scheduled May 2001 increase – to help attract and retain nurses. Minnesota: RN Pressure On With contract talks underway for about 9,000 RNs at 12 Twin Cities hospitals and other conracts expiring across the state in May and June, MNA’s Start Hearing Nurses Campaign is keeping the pressure on. MNA President Joanne Waldron told cheering nurses at a big April 5 rally that “Nursing today is much like being with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea” citing understaffing, huge workloads and long hours. Waldron warned of strikes if new contracts don’t address these issues. State Legislative Action Staffing legislation in various forms has been introduced in 28 states, including: Mandatory Overtime Prohibition Whistleblower Protection
Ohio and Alaska 600 RNs at Mercy Hospital in Canton, Ohio vote April 26-28 on representation by the Ohio Nurses Association. In Ketchikan, Alaska, RNs vote May 2 on representation by the Alaska Nurses Association. UAN / VA National Council Powers up for National Bargaining More power for nurses at Veterans Administration hospitals as a new UAN / National VA Council prepares to bargain its first national master contract. Nurses in 21 Veterans Administration locals voted to consolidate and form a national council of VA RNs under the UAN banner. Elected to the first VA National Council are: Michael Boucher, President (Durham, NC); Emma Jean Powell, Vice President (Atlanta, GA); Jeffrey Johnson, Secretary (Tuscaloosa, AL); Alice Staggs (Cincinnati, OH); Rebecca Johnson (Albany, NY); Gene Akers (Martinsburg, WV); and Marvin Larisey (Augusta, GA). …and Veterans Hospital in Tampa Wins Magnet Status Congratulations to the 400-plus UAN union staff nurses at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida, which was recently honored with Magnet Status. Awarded for nursing excellence in the delivery of patient care by the America Nurses Credentialing Center, just 31 health care organizations nationwide have won Magnet Status recognition over the past eight years. Dates May 2-4 Staff Nurse
Summit Marquette, MI |
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