RN "Super Union"

allnurses Guide · Dec 7, 2009

Present at the birth: The National Nurses Movement

...The business meeting this morning became more of a festival as the delegates from across the country voted unanimously to establish our constitution, confirm our officers and declare the existence of our new organization.

We had the thrilling experience of hearing from one of the greatest speakers in the American Labor movement: Stewart Acuff of the AFL/CIO. Stewart's speaking style comes out of the great tradition of southern church oratory and he outdid himself today. He had that room full of nurses on our feet over and over, chanting, roaring approval and often with tears in our eyes. ...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/7/145425/028

PICUPNP · Dec 7, 2009

rnsagainstforcedunionism.blogspot.com

enjoy!

Mindful, RN · Dec 8, 2009

Enjoy what ? ..... the link is weak :twocents:

tewdles, RN · Dec 8, 2009

It is foolish to think that nurses across the board have no need for labor unions or that a national organization to speak a single, unified voice for improvement of nursing issues is unnecessary. I, personally, have never worked in a unionized hospital or setting. However, I have benefitted from the efforts of the unions in other hospitals in my practice area. When they get a pay raise, I usually get one. When they get better options for shifts, etc, we usually get something similar. The bottom line is this...there are MANY nurses working in deplorable situations...no power, no security, no consideration. As long as healthcare employers continue to treat professional nurses as "expensive and unavoidable" necessities there will be a need for unions. As long as discussion of patient outcomes etc continue to do little more than pay lip service to the contribution and impact of professional nurses there will be a need for a national voice/union to represent nurses in policy and practice decisions. In our current state of healthcare I believe it is time we have a professional body which can advocate for us as we advocate for our patients. It is past time that professional nurses have the ability to lobby our law makers and employers for improved working conditions. Respectfully, IMHO.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Dec 8, 2009

"The bottom line is this...there are MANY nurses working in deplorable situations...no power, no security, no consideration."

Unfortunately it seems like often it about the Union's power, security and consideration, not those who are forced to pay dues.

allnurses Guide · Dec 9, 2009

"...students today have increasingly complex needs for nursing care. school nurses help facilitate learning for all students, especially those with asthma, food allergies, obesity, vision and hearing difficulties, dental problems, mental and behavioral problems, and those
who need prescribed medicine for either acute or chronic conditions.
with 97% of school-age children in the u.s. spending their days at school, the role of the school nurse is critical to the implementation of quality school health services. for many children, contact with a school nurse is often the only consistent access to a health care professional..."
http://www.csno.org/docs/fall%202009%20csno_bulletin.pdf (look on page three)

yet school nurses in my state are stretched so thin that most days there is no school nurse available to the students.

and there are constant attempts to legalize having unlicensed school employees give insulin, rectal valium, and other medications to children.

i think highly educated school nurses should belong to a strong rn union. and learn not to accept change that harms the health of students.

unfortunately when in a teachers or other union the interests of the nurses on behalf of children's health is not considered.

every school should have a nurse. some of the larger schools need two. every day!

when i was kid and when my children were in school each school had a nurse.

how did this happen?

Julia RN · Dec 13, 2009

Exciting news - congratulations!

I see the UAN website no longer exists- does the UAN no longer exist?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 13, 2009

Exciting news - congratulations!
I see the UAN website no longer exists- does the UAN no longer exist?

UAN merged into this new union.

Julia RN · Dec 13, 2009

So they all joined CNA/NNOC- not that I think this is a bad thing. I do believe we are stronger together.

This looks more like a new constitution for NNOC with an expanded leadership body, than a "new union".

I don't see PSNAP listed as an affiliate on the NNU website yet, but they participated in the convention. I wonder if they will be considered "an affiliate" in their own right, or a "CNA/NNOC affiliate" under NNOC.

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/about/who-we-are.html

Anyway, I wish my state was in it. Maybe someday....

Mindful, RN · Dec 13, 2009

Read comments at the end.... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/08/MNAC1AQ0UK.DTL&type=jobs

tewdles, RN · Dec 13, 2009

laborer...a comment from the article..thanks for encouraging the read...

"RN's and LVN's are the most under-rated and dogged group of First Responders that save people's lives and prevent all sorts of life threatening illnesses, chaos to patients lives, death ...

Yet, the business model of hospitals often masquerading as benevolent non profit organization in truth ruthlessly for profit, out of control insurance companies wont reveal the true billable pie showing the full monies coming in and where they go out to

How much do they bill in the name of the Nurse signature? Remember, this is the Primary Care provider often having more contact with Patients then Docs and ancillary staff combined.

Truth is, people are mad and angry a still mostly Women's profession are demanding fair pay, work conditions and that their valuable voice is heard and taken serious regarding the care of very sick people

Dont be mad at the wage, it still is not enough. Be mad at yourself, the non nurse who frankly, dont know what they are talking about."

Another responder commented that we would price ourselves right out of the market...lol...clearly a person who has no clue about delivery of healthcare!

minirn · Dec 17, 2009

I am opposed to Unions in the Nursing profession. We are professionals. It's humiliating to me to be lumped in with truck drivers and factory workers. Is that how we want to be perceived? It is possible to make changes and impose regulations without forming a union - take the accounting profession. They have a set of standards they follow without forming a union. I am able to speak and stand up for myself. Don't get me wrong - I do see a time and a place for some unions. They were necessary in many industries - especially back in the 1930's 40's etc and I'm sure are still necessary in other areas today. But Nursing? Come on. If you need to invoke change in your workplace, then make a strong case, present your facts and work together to implement it. If administration is not listening to you - then you need to listen to their objections, and counter with facts from your side of the argument. When I see news articles with nurses going on strike and threatening their workplace and patient care, it makes me sick - just as it does when I see my local teachers going on strike. Just my own opinion - I'm sure there are others with opposite views.