St Mary Medical Center, Apple Valley

[pickledpepperRN]

I admire these nurses and their web site

http://www.socalnurse.org/html/rallies.html

http://www.socalnurse.org/index.html

http://www.socalnurse.org/html/ppc.html

St Mary Medical Center

RN Unity Works!

Med Surg. Ratios, Break Coverage, Use of LVNs Among Victories

From PPC Chair Dianne Bemboom:

Our St. Mary Professional Practice Committee (PPC) continues to meet monthly to discuss and address staffing and patient safety issues. All CNA bargaining unit RNs are welcome (and encouraged to attend) our meetings. For 2005, we are adjusting our meeting schedule in order to increase participation (particularly from night shift RN), and will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month from 8 - 9:30am. Our next meeting will be on Thursday April 21st in Classroom "A".

2004 was a productive year for the PPC as we accomplished several of our goals:

Break nurse position - Our PPC fought for and won commitment from Administration that RNs would be covered for meals and breaks & while maintaining the "at all times" provisions of AB 394 and providing safe patient care.

Established a new procedure for penalty pay and no break pay. (Special thanks to Lois Sanders, Joanna Owens, and all the nurses who held strong to abide by the law.)

Committment to all RN staffing to meet the ratios.During 2004, our PPC and RNs on the floor held firm that the rations called for by AB 394 are "all RN ratios" due to differences in Scope of Practice between RNs and LVNs.

Administration agreed with our position and has phased out use of LVNs for meeting rations. (Special thanks to Joanna Owens and her Med Surg colleagues for their staunch support of all RN ratios).

Standards for practice in the new Telemetry Unit.

Process improved for the direct admission of Pediatric patients. (Special thanks to Cheryl Schuetze).

Among the projects our PPC is currently working on:

Lift teams and improved lifting equipment.

Better process for transfer orders.

More Per Diem shifts.

Adherence to standards for recovery of patients in ICU

[Sheri257]

Spacenurse: Thanks for the link to this website, which mentions defined contribution (401K) and defined benefit plans. However, I couldn't find specifics on the merits of a defined benefit plan and why it is better. Do you know?

Thanks in advance.

[pickledpepperRN]

I am no expert.

A Defined Benefit retirement plan pays a specific monthly amount for the rest of your life. The amount is based on how many years you and your employer paid into the plan and your age at retirement.

Because I hope for a long life I am glad to have this kind.

A Defined Contribution plan states how much you and your employer will pay. The money is invested for your use after retirement with no guarantees. A 401 K is an example. I have one of these too. I plan to spend most of it in the first few years after I retire (If it does not lose money). Then I can live on my Defined Benefit plan.