Million Nurse March Information

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Information about the Million Nurse March

Board of Directors

Michele Jansen RN Florida

Helen Cook RN Michigan

Cheryl Worden LPN Arkansas

Ron Phelps RN BSN Virginia

The MNM came into being as a discussion on a nursing website. That discussion than became a growing idea. Eventually that idea became an organization. We are now a growing organization of nurses from varied and diverse backgrounds and educations. It is the thought of this organization that massive changes in nursing and in how healthcare is delivered must be made. It is up to nurses to prompt those changes. Nurses are the true patient advocates, and in order to do so we must advocate for ourselves. To do this effectively the thought is to bring all nurses together. Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Certified Nurse Assistants. Each one of us makes up the important bedside team, and without us healthcare would not exist. We believe that each component of the bedside team have practice acts and certification limits that must be followed to enhance appropriate patient care, and that it is inappropriate for administrators that are not licensed bedside caregivers to put any of us into positions that demand otherwise.

It is the vision of the Million Nurse March that the diverse voices within the field need to come together under one banner, with common ground. The MNM is the vehicle in which that can occur. We invite all organizations that have nurses within their membership to pool resources together to make this vision a reality.

We invite all others that are concerned about patient care and the state of healthcare to join with us. Other healthcare workers, advocacy groups, physicians, educators and public citizens. All who are concerned and feel that they can endorse and support the tenets of this organization are welcome to participate. We offer the caveat that our platform is a nursing advocacy platform that will also enhance patient care and other individual agendas cannot come in front of that.

Our platform is for federal legislation on these specific issues

1.Nationwide staff to patient ratios based on patient acuity; in every area that nursing care is provided. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics etc...

2.National legislation that prohibits the use of mandatory overtime that will protect all bedside caregivers.

3.National legislation that will put enforceable and strong whistleblower protections into place for all healthcare workers.

4.National legislation that will prohibit the performance of skilled nursing functions by unlicensed staff.

5.Restrictions on unsafe floating practices.

6.Appropriate monetary compensation for skills and science based knowledge.

Without which patient care suffers.

This platform addresses the working conditions that are poorly impacting all nursing care across the country. It is the working conditions that have prompted the mass exodus of nurses from the bedside. This platform addresses retention issues.

The other side of the platform must address recruitment issues. As a profession we must bury the negativity that has run rampant through our ranks. Encourage young persons to pursue entry level nursing programs, support increased funding for those that pursue nursing programs as well as increased funding and other support programs that will allow those that wish to pursue the higher education opportunities of the field.

We need to value, respect and celebrate those that work strictly at the bedside. We need to encourage the healthcare industry to acknowledge that bedside nursing care is the bedrock on which healthcare rests, on which good patients outcomes are impossible without. We need to educate the public regarding what nurses do and how we affect the outcomes of every patient we come in contact with. We also have to acknowledge and effectively deal with the dynamics that encourage and perpetuate the mentality of "eating our young" be that the new graduate, or the experienced nurse that is new to a different field of practice. We must quit setting fires in our own house.

The MNM has set aside two days in which to address our issues to our national legislators. May 10, 2002 for meeting with legislators that are willing to sit down and listen to our concerns, and May 11, 2002 for a March and rally to protest the treatment of nurses by the healthcare industry, highlighting how that treatment has directly impacted and exacerbated the nursing shortage. This time will also be used to educate the public and media as to what nurses do day after day, how what we do has a direct effect on patient care outcomes and to celebrate our profession for the joys it can give us as well as the care and compassion it can give others.

Please join us in this worthwhile endeavor. Working together we will have a tremendous impact on our lives and the care of our patients.

[email protected]

Information about the Million Nurse March

Board of Directors

Michele Jansen RN Florida

Helen Cook RN Michigan

Cheryl Worden LPN Arkansas

Ron Phelps RN BSN Virginia

The MNM came into being as a discussion on a nursing website. That discussion than became a growing idea. Eventually that idea became an organization. We are now a growing organization of nurses from varied and diverse backgrounds and educations. It is the thought of this organization that massive changes in nursing and in how healthcare is delivered must be made. It is up to nurses to prompt those changes. Nurses are the true patient advocates, and in order to do so we must advocate for ourselves. To do this effectively the thought is to bring all nurses together. Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Certified Nurse Assistants. Each one of us makes up the important bedside team, and without us healthcare would not exist. We believe that each component of the bedside team have practice acts and certification limits that must be followed to enhance appropriate patient care, and that it is inappropriate for administrators that are not licensed bedside caregivers to put any of us into positions that demand otherwise.

It is the vision of the Million Nurse March that the diverse voices within the field need to come together under one banner, with common ground. The MNM is the vehicle in which that can occur. We invite all organizations that have nurses within their membership to pool resources together to make this vision a reality.

We invite all others that are concerned about patient care and the state of healthcare to join with us. Other healthcare workers, advocacy groups, physicians, educators and public citizens. All who are concerned and feel that they can endorse and support the tenets of this organization are welcome to participate. We offer the caveat that our platform is a nursing advocacy platform that will also enhance patient care and other individual agendas cannot come in front of that.

Our platform is for federal legislation on these specific issues

1.Nationwide staff to patient ratios based on patient acuity; in every area that nursing care is provided. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics etc...

2.National legislation that prohibits the use of mandatory overtime that will protect all bedside caregivers.

3.National legislation that will put enforceable and strong whistleblower protections into place for all healthcare workers.

4.National legislation that will prohibit the performance of skilled nursing functions by unlicensed staff.

5.Restrictions on unsafe floating practices.

6.Appropriate monetary compensation for skills and science based knowledge.

Without which patient care suffers.

This platform addresses the working conditions that are poorly impacting all nursing care across the country. It is the working conditions that have prompted the mass exodus of nurses from the bedside. This platform addresses retention issues.

The other side of the platform must address recruitment issues. As a profession we must bury the negativity that has run rampant through our ranks. Encourage young persons to pursue entry level nursing programs, support increased funding for those that pursue nursing programs as well as increased funding and other support programs that will allow those that wish to pursue the higher education opportunities of the field.

We need to value, respect and celebrate those that work strictly at the bedside. We need to encourage the healthcare industry to acknowledge that bedside nursing care is the bedrock on which healthcare rests, on which good patients outcomes are impossible without. We need to educate the public regarding what nurses do and how we affect the outcomes of every patient we come in contact with. We also have to acknowledge and effectively deal with the dynamics that encourage and perpetuate the mentality of "eating our young" be that the new graduate, or the experienced nurse that is new to a different field of practice. We must quit setting fires in our own house.

The MNM has set aside two days in which to address our issues to our national legislators. May 10, 2002 for meeting with legislators that are willing to sit down and listen to our concerns, and May 11, 2002 for a March and rally to protest the treatment of nurses by the healthcare industry, highlighting how that treatment has directly impacted and exacerbated the nursing shortage. This time will also be used to educate the public and media as to what nurses do day after day, how what we do has a direct effect on patient care outcomes and to celebrate our profession for the joys it can give us as well as the care and compassion it can give others.

Please join us in this worthwhile endeavor. Working together we will have a tremendous impact on our lives and the care of our patients.

[email protected]

1 Votes

I was going to reply to a different thread. Something about nursing wages when this one caught my eye and after I read the "platform for federal legislation" the first thought that came to mind was

****YOU MUST BE SMOKING CRACK - RIGHT?****

"Our platform is for federal legislation on these specific issues

1. Nationwide staff to patient ratios based on patient acuity; in every area that nursing care is provided. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics etc...

2. National legislation that prohibits the use of mandatory overtime that will protect all bedside caregivers.

3. National legislation that will put enforceable and strong whistleblower protections into place for all healthcare workers.

4. National legislation that will prohibit the performance of skilled nursing functions by unlicensed staff.

5. Restrictions on unsafe floating practices.

6. Appropriate monetary compensation for skills and science based knowledge."

Hello???? Federal legislation that regulates how hospitals opreate?

Um, Okay, lets join the MNM and while we are at it, lets abolish managed care and jump right into bed with socialized and/or government sponsored healthcare...This all sounds like some minority rights march or something.

Look, the current state of healthcare is piss-poor enough...Why in the world would you want to drag the federal government into the middle of how hospitals operate???? How freaking narrow minded can you be??? While you are at it lets make sure we have a zero tolerance policy at hospitals too. Oh, and lets make sure that the environmentalists are on site to inspect each and every red biohazard container that leaves the building. Oh, and here is another idea, lets mandate that all hospital meals have the appropriate amount of foods from each of the major food groups...Lets mandate ourselves, our wallets, our taxes and our country right out of healthcare...

Oh, while we are at it - lets have a federal mandate for a nationwide dress code for all nurses. White? Blue scrubs? Maybe we can mandate cute little teddy bear scrubs. Clogs or White sneakers? Please... MNM you are getting more embarassing as time goes on.

I was going to reply to a different thread. Something about nursing wages when this one caught my eye and after I read the "platform for federal legislation" the first thought that came to mind was

****YOU MUST BE SMOKING CRACK - RIGHT?****

"Our platform is for federal legislation on these specific issues

1. Nationwide staff to patient ratios based on patient acuity; in every area that nursing care is provided. Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics etc...

2. National legislation that prohibits the use of mandatory overtime that will protect all bedside caregivers.

3. National legislation that will put enforceable and strong whistleblower protections into place for all healthcare workers.

4. National legislation that will prohibit the performance of skilled nursing functions by unlicensed staff.

5. Restrictions on unsafe floating practices.

6. Appropriate monetary compensation for skills and science based knowledge."

Hello???? Federal legislation that regulates how hospitals opreate?

Um, Okay, lets join the MNM and while we are at it, lets abolish managed care and jump right into bed with socialized and/or government sponsored healthcare...This all sounds like some minority rights march or something.

Look, the current state of healthcare is piss-poor enough...Why in the world would you want to drag the federal government into the middle of how hospitals operate???? How freaking narrow minded can you be??? While you are at it lets make sure we have a zero tolerance policy at hospitals too. Oh, and lets make sure that the environmentalists are on site to inspect each and every red biohazard container that leaves the building. Oh, and here is another idea, lets mandate that all hospital meals have the appropriate amount of foods from each of the major food groups...Lets mandate ourselves, our wallets, our taxes and our country right out of healthcare...

Oh, while we are at it - lets have a federal mandate for a nationwide dress code for all nurses. White? Blue scrubs? Maybe we can mandate cute little teddy bear scrubs. Clogs or White sneakers? Please... MNM you are getting more embarassing as time goes on.

Specializes in ER.

I am willing to show up in a particular city on a particular day, and to spread the word to my colleagues, but I think we need to be united on a national level to make the most effective impact. What organization/ union/association can help with national organization? What core issues are we working for? We can't just march and say we're unhappy, but not be unified when people ask unhappy about what?

I also agree that government regulation is a short term improvement that would cause a long term headache. When has the government ever done anything effectively? Perhaps a national nursing standard is called for. If I need to perform 12 5 minute assessments four times a day, baths once a day, med passing 4 times a day, charting 10 minutes on each patient, and it all adds up to 16 hours of work on a twelve hour shift that should be absolutely illegal. If we can't make that stick how about a fee per patient,or per service. How about if I manage/must care for two labor patients, or two vent patients when the nursing national standard is one, then I get double pay.

Just some ideas. Why don't we brainstorm solutions instead of talking about why we are going to fail.

Specializes in ER.

I am willing to show up in a particular city on a particular day, and to spread the word to my colleagues, but I think we need to be united on a national level to make the most effective impact. What organization/ union/association can help with national organization? What core issues are we working for? We can't just march and say we're unhappy, but not be unified when people ask unhappy about what?

I also agree that government regulation is a short term improvement that would cause a long term headache. When has the government ever done anything effectively? Perhaps a national nursing standard is called for. If I need to perform 12 5 minute assessments four times a day, baths once a day, med passing 4 times a day, charting 10 minutes on each patient, and it all adds up to 16 hours of work on a twelve hour shift that should be absolutely illegal. If we can't make that stick how about a fee per patient,or per service. How about if I manage/must care for two labor patients, or two vent patients when the nursing national standard is one, then I get double pay.

Just some ideas. Why don't we brainstorm solutions instead of talking about why we are going to fail.

Why not give up this insanity and join your state nurses associations. Like it or not, your spray-painting, banner waving, head shaving, bra burning tactics will go nowhere. You might make the 6 o'clock news, unless of course, their is a something more sensational to report about.

You will succeeed in losing public respect for nurses,because like it or not, nurses continue to have an angelic image in the public eye. They see us as always being there, selfless, no matter what, to take care of them. Do you really want to destroy this? I for one do not.

Join your state nurses association and allow lobbyists to obtain our political agenda. Like it or not, this is how government works. For anyone who thinks different, please check your local community college for an intro course to American government.

Why not give up this insanity and join your state nurses associations. Like it or not, your spray-painting, banner waving, head shaving, bra burning tactics will go nowhere. You might make the 6 o'clock news, unless of course, their is a something more sensational to report about.

You will succeeed in losing public respect for nurses,because like it or not, nurses continue to have an angelic image in the public eye. They see us as always being there, selfless, no matter what, to take care of them. Do you really want to destroy this? I for one do not.

Join your state nurses association and allow lobbyists to obtain our political agenda. Like it or not, this is how government works. For anyone who thinks different, please check your local community college for an intro course to American government.

My response was a recommendation in lieu of the MNM as another avenue in voicing ones concern in general. I am prohibited by law to particapate in the MNM because I am a military officer and therefor a federal employee. I was just offering advice. I personally feel that nurses as a perfession need to get more proactive at the local & state level. What nurses need to to do is first education the community (the hospitals' customer) first and then progress from there. There is nothing like an educated consumer.

My response was a recommendation in lieu of the MNM as another avenue in voicing ones concern in general. I am prohibited by law to particapate in the MNM because I am a military officer and therefor a federal employee. I was just offering advice. I personally feel that nurses as a perfession need to get more proactive at the local & state level. What nurses need to to do is first education the community (the hospitals' customer) first and then progress from there. There is nothing like an educated consumer.

If you really want to make a statement, write your state cogressmen and senators. When you write, ask for a reply. Continue to do this and your ideas might get better attention. But to work, this need to be done collectively. As a military member and a nurse I find that this works. BUT AS A COLLECTIVE. A few letters here and there will fall on blind eye or get lost on paper filled desks.

If you really want to make a statement, write your state cogressmen and senators. When you write, ask for a reply. Continue to do this and your ideas might get better attention. But to work, this need to be done collectively. As a military member and a nurse I find that this works. BUT AS A COLLECTIVE. A few letters here and there will fall on blind eye or get lost on paper filled desks.

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