Hey Guys,
Now is the time to make yourself heard. I posted another thread last night asking how this new overtime rules bill would affect nurses. There is still some research to do on the actual bill, however preliminary research confirms this bill will enable employers to force overtime without pay, or face "abandonment of patient" charges -- thereby risk losing your RN credential. I included a link at the bottom with more detailed information.
If this OT bill passes as written, RNs are over a barrel. By that I mean placed RN's are placed in a very weak negotiating posture. Think about it. Employers have many incentives to have more RN's working at any time, EXCEPT for OT. New OT rules pass -- you are placed on salary. Employer says you work when they want with no additional costs to them, or they threaten your RN credential so you can't easily get hired anywhere else. Faced with that prospect, you have little choice but to oblige.
Less $$ in nursing means less people in nursing. Less nurses means more work for those who stay in nursing. More work means more situations where OT is required. More OT means more employee/mgmt confrontation, resulting in more RN's leaving nursing. Without statute protection from licensure revocation, RN's are over the barrell. This is serious.
After discussing with a few politically astute colleagues, this could be a GOP/DEM maneuver to get political cover for rising heathcare costs. They pass a few window-dressing measures, take credit for lowering costs by their ingenious bi-partisan cooperation. Remove all the spin and they accomplish their cost reductions by taking $$ away from YOU. Unfortunately, it's not all about the lost OT $$. The new OT bill will set up a situation where the possibility RN licensure being threatened is more probable than before the law was passed. There is no clause that prohibit's employers from charging "patient abandonment" in a mandatory OT dispute.
Make no mistake about it. This passage of this new OT bill would not be solely due to Republicans. The Democrats are NOT putting up much of a fight. They have their own interests in mind and it's not our necessarily our interests. They could block this if they have good reason to do so. We need to provide them and all candidates a reason.
The squeaky wheel gets attention. There comes a point when good people have to take a stand or get walked on. This is it folks. I think the moment has come where Nurses have much to lose and must act. Let's talk it up on this point. For those of you who are concerned, here is a basic strategy to get a movement started -- think of it as a starting point. I welcome everyone to put in their own creativity:
We can make it a goal to impact the election conversation. By that, I mean we bring this issue to the forefront so that Nurses are talking about this. We can't skip this step. If Nurses are not activley talking about this, we can't create a buzz anywhere else.
1. Commit yourself to making x number of phone calls per day/week. You have time for this! -- a minimum of 1 hour per week really helps.
2. Call your friends, family members, associates, school buddies, local nursing schools, nursing organizations, anybody who will listen. Tell them than Nurses are being targeted. Explain how a nurse jepordizes their license when refusing to work mandatory OT. Explain that after the OT rule change, it's in a hospital's economic interest to increase nursing hours. Ask them to contact their circle of friends first, then engage the following:
3. Contact your local press, radio shows, Congress critter, congressional and presidential candidates, represent yourself as a non-partisan independent. This latter point is VERY important. They must not get ANY sense they can take your vote for granted. You MUST appear to be a "swing voter". Tell them you are RN who is a voice for thousands of RN's in your state, and that you are very alarmed about the new OT rules and the shift of power to nurse employers. Talk nicely, professionally, never never threaten or get schrill. Make your point:
4. We want two things:
(1) Amend or defeat this bill, resulting in Nurses are paid overtime regardless of annual income.
(2) Create a statute protecting Nurses from licensure revocation due to labor disagreements concerning mandatory overtime.
5. Send a few dollars (5, 25, whatever -- money talks!) to a campaign(s) with a letter stating your position. Indicate clearly what we want. Very important: Represent yourself as a voice for thousands of RN's AND as a non-partisan independent. Include a xerox copy of a check (same $ amount) you have sent to NON-PARTISAN organization (for example cuip.org, termlimits.org, ballot-access.org, your choice). Make the point that we are not happy with the collusion of the two major parties to the detriment of Nurses.
6. Let other's know what you are accomplishing. Keep in touch with people you call. Talk with them about how they are doing. Encourage them. Post your progress on this board.
7. Creatively figure out how we can come together as a collective voice. Learn what it takes to convince fellow health professionals to give up a just a few hours of their time to engage at the political level. This is the most difficult task at hand -- you must lead by example.
8. Political activisim is a numbers game, an endurance race, and a flexability test. Keep this in mind -- don't get discouraged when you don't get a positive response. It's more important to keep plugging at it - the more contacts you make, the better chance you have of activating a passionate activist. Respect those with differing opinion, and never never burn a bridge. You don't have to share common political ideology to work together on an issue. There is a lot of power in going up to a person and saying, "I know we are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum, and I'd like to know if you and I could work together on this issue". If they are not interested, stay focused, don't get sucked into time-wasting debates -- thank them for their time and move on. If the situation warrants, call them again in a week or two, give them an update and ask them again.
In all my years in business and grassroot politics, I see this new OT bill as a serious economic threat to Nurses. I am very concerned about this b/c I am soon becoming a nurse as my second career. I urge you to take a few minutes, research it yourself, share your thoughts. If I'm all wrong about this, then it will become apparent on this board. If I'm onto something, then it will become apparent in the larger political arena.
For more information on this, ideanurse provided the following link:
http://www.hpae.org/nursemobilizeforotpay062503.htm
He provided more infomation from the Labor dept, unfortunately I can't get to in now. Take a look at my last post "Does new OT rules affect LPN RN" or something close to that.
Sincerely,
Mr_D
