A CALL FOR A NATIONAL NURSING UNION

nursedude · May 23, 2001

We don't need a union... Just another nursing shortage.

History is repeating itself again. Just like it did back in the 80's. There was a nursing shortage then. Nurses could name their hours, unit and there were sign-on bonus' etc.

As far as rejecting base salaries of less than 75k... Although that kind of money sounds great, I doubt that if the base salary for all nurses was 75k, there would be any hospitals left.

How realistic is it to expect the majority of nurses in this nation to agree on anything?

Personally, I think a "national sick day" (or two or three) would cause the same effect...

fiestynurse · May 23, 2001

Back in the nursing shortage of the 80s, hospitals had to close entire units because of the lack of nurses. You won't have any hospitals if that happens either. We are the hospital's greatest asset! We are the revenue producers! They have to stop thinking of us as an economic burden.

I also think that this present nursing shortage is different from past shortages. It's going to last a lot longer. And it's only in it's early stages. In addition, doctors are leaving,too. Medical school enrollment dropped for the first time in 40 years. I envision a collapse of the entire health care system within the next 2-5 years.

Brace yourselves!!

[ May 23, 2001: Message edited by: feistynurse ]

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 23, 2001

Current national nursing union with nursing leadership:

United American Nurses http://www.nursingworld.org/uan/index.htm

CNA, PASNAP and MNA all working to create a national group nursing led by nurses.

SEIU/1199P another union with nursing members but not entirely nurse controlled.

Agree healthcare in for a very bummpy ride over the next 5 years and maybe beyond.

StaceRacer1 · May 24, 2001

WHY do we have to result to a a union to get what we want!!!! We have the most voices in the health care field!!!!

We know want we want!!!! Better patient ratio's, higher pay, better Health insurance, better vacation time, matching retirement, etc.

HOW many NURSES are there in the USA alone?

Over 2 million!!!! Atleast!!!!!!!

That is 2 million voices STRONG!!!!!!!!

I learned in high school that to get what you want, we have to fight!!! Writing TONS of letters or e-mailing our politicians is one way that can help!!!!!

Have we really done our part????? I have written my State Senator and my State representative to tell them WHAT I want to change in nursing!!! In fact, I plan to do this once a week, until something is done.

I urge all NURSES to write to ateast one politician!!!! Usually all politicians respond back.

LoisJean · May 24, 2001

By chance are you including Licensed Nurses as participants with you regarding this particular topic?

-jt · May 24, 2001

we ALREADY have a national nurses union. Its in its infancy and was started last yr with 100,000 direct-care RNs (bedside, dialyisis, homecare, clinic, etc) who are ANA members:

"The United American Nurses - the union for RNs by RNs" http://www.UANnurse.org

Some people dont like that idea either.

nurs4kids · May 24, 2001

Originally posted by -jt:
we ALREADY have a national nurses union. Its in its infancy and was started last yr with 100,000 direct-care RNs (bedside, dialyisis, homecare, clinic, etc) who are ANA members:
"The United American Nurses - the union for RNs by RNs" http://www.UANnurse.org
Some people dont like that idea either.

How about a union for NURSES (yes, this includes LPN's) and not affiliated with the ANA. Bedside nurses need a voice of their own.

Q. · May 24, 2001

I agree with StaceRacer. We have power in numbers alone. We don't need a union. We all need to stay home one day.

night owl · May 24, 2001

Agree with you get more response with numbers, and a day or two home for all nurses would certainly do SOMETHING to jar their fool minds! All hospitals, and LTC facilities just to name a couple would absolutely sink without nurses as their backbones. What would they do if nurses didn't show up for work one day for all three shifts? What would happen to the pts? and who would take care of them??? Agency? Or would they start grabbing people off the streets??? I could just hear the BIG HEADS, "Hey, wanna be a nurse for 8-12 hours today? We could certainly use you!"

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 24, 2001

How about a union for NURSES (yes, this includes LPN's) and not affiliated with the ANA. Bedside nurses need a voice of their own.

Why do bedside nurses need a voice of their own? This would only serve to be more devisive. Concerns of bedside nurses expressed above

We know want we want!!!! Better patient ratio's, higher pay, better Health insurance, better vacation time, matching retirement, etc

are the same things nurses need who work in other areas like homecare, clinics, nursing educators, etc.

Involved in the nursing profession 24 years now, the major problem is that bedside nurses have not spoken-up for themselves during unit meetings, hospital general meetings, when work restructuring occured, nor became members of RN or LPN professional associations or if they are members, participate at meetings or attend annual meetings.

Licensed professionals ...

Less than 10% of RN's are members of ANA and about 1% of LPNs of members of NFLPN.

Attending my ANA districts meeting and

state convention almost yearly that is the same amount of total members I see participating in the organization

My district has 100 members...5-7 show up at meetings. In PA in the year 2000, We had approximately 1500 members--less than 80 attended our convention, the lowest amount I have seen..

10 years ago when we had collective bargaining members, we had 1000 district members and 35-60 would attend meetings; 10,000 state members of PNA and 200 attended convention.

Recently, I attended SEIU/PSNAP rally at PA state capital ( even though I am not a union member) to get legislators attention re introduction of mandatory overtime legislation introduced. The bigest union local in PASNAP is Crozer Chester with over 750 members, five rode on the bus with me to Harrisburg. Three of the nurses were active with me in PNA in the 80's and early 90's.

Most attending the rally were middleaged.

Where are the 20 and 30 year olds who wil be resposible when we retire in the next 10-15 years???

How many bedside nurses do you know that fulfill hospitsl/SNf/Agency requirements re inservces, unit activities, licensure requirements willingly and independently without 50 prompts to get completed.

Apathy and non-participation is what has led us to the current bedside crisis in my view.

An organization is only strong if its members participate.

[ May 24, 2001: Message edited by: NRSKarenRN ]

nurs4kids · May 25, 2001

OHHHHHH, i get it..it's okay for the LPN/RN to be divided..they NEED a separate voice, but the bedside nursing is a whole different issue? IF the goals of everyone is the same, then why isn't the ANA solving our problems?? I mean shouldn't they at least do what THEIR members need done? With that, by your explanation, the rest of us would benefit. ANA is focused toward upper level nursing. Their needs are not the same as ours (bedside nurses). I did not mean the term as literal as you took it. Is the home health and clinic nurse not also "at the bedside"? Their needs ARE the same as mine. No, a nurse educator is not faced with staffing ratio's, disease exposure, etc..THEIR NEEDS are NOT the same as the bedside nurse. Why are you ANA'ers so opposed to a new organization? What are your fears? If the ANA is so good to you now, then what do you have to lose by another nursing organization?