[NRSKarenRN]

Found at HealthLeaders Media

Nurses file complaint against Sharp over hospital conditions

Sharp HealthCare nurses filed a quality-of-care complaint with the California Department of Health Services detailing hundreds of alleged regulations violations at Sharp's seven hospitals.

AP/San Francisco Chronicle, Jun 05, 2007

[oramar]

Got to love those California nurses. They play hard ball to win. No "good little nursie" types out there. Oh by the way, thanks for reminding me to visit Health Leaders site. Used to go there all the time, haven't been doing it at all lately.

[pickledpepperRN]

United Nurses Association of California (UAN) is an all RN union.

[NRSKarenRN]

Website: ** NURSES UNITE **

The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals represents more than 15,000 nurses and other health care professionals. UNAC/UHCP, as the association is known, is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

We are a family of health care workers, professionals, neighbors, and friends. Our members work, think, become involved, and play together to benefit themselves and to benefit our profession and our communities.

Since forming in 1972, UNAC/UHCP has grown into a mature and highly respected professional union that is a powerful force for RNs and Medical Professionals. Over last three decades, UNAC/UHCP has survived, thrived, and grown because of the commitment and involvement of our members. Member participation was, and continues to be, the strength of UNAC/UHCP!

[Faeriewand]

Been watching this on tv. I will continue to monitor this situation as Sharp is where I want to work when I'm licensed. Hope those nurses can make it better before I get there

[msdobson]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

United Nurses Association of California (UAN) is an all RN union.

edit. Let me rephrase that. Why only RN's? Don't they support LVN's as well, and if not, who does?

[pickledpepperRN]

There was a Supreme Court decision ( in the 1980's) that determined there could be an all RN bargaining unit.
An all nurses unit (RN/LPN/LVN) was not allowed.
LVNs would be in a technical unit with respiratory, engineering, and medical technologists.
I may be wrong but think that the Union of Health Care Professionals which is associated with the UAN is a technical bargaining unit.

The California Nurses Association, CNA has a union called Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union (CHEU). At two hospitals in the Los Angeles area they represent all the ancillary staff from houskeepin to dietary. LVNs, certified nursing assistants (CNA) monitor techs, and unit secretaries are members. I'm told it is really good because they have a Patient Care Committee that works with the rN committe to improve care.
Houskeeping and central service staff worked together with nursing staff on an infection control problem. They probably prevented a lot of terrible infections.

In Oakland the CHEU has a technical unit. I don't know exactly who is included but met a laboratory worker who belongs.

[NRSKarenRN]

Under NLRA labor laws, because LPN/LVN and RN's are licensed as differeing types of nurses , i.e technical level for LPN and professional level for RN, RN nursing union can represent only professional nurses.

What healthcare unions have done, is to create seperate union affiliated with RN union for non-professional workers.

See:http://www.nlrb.gov/

[msdobson]

Thanks, guys!

[RedZeppelinRN]

Where can I get more on this? My docs are from Sharp. But I have no probem with them. I guess this concerns more hospital and nursing issues.

Thanks