Political hope for bedside nurses

Nurses Activism

Published

A new book is coming out which details the history of the California Nurses Association. Just a union...of nurses

This book is now available on Amazon. It details how and why the California bedside nurses managed to get staffing ratio laws, and how we can do it all around the country.

It is readily apparent the industry will not do it (provide truly safe staffing levels) unless there are fines for not doing it. Don't worry, they'll still make tons of money, and no, hospitals won't close because of this.

Dr. Laura Gasparis Vonfrolio (well known nurse activist and clinical expert ER nurse) has called this book the one book every RN in the U.S. needs to read.

We are not powerless

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm one who has evolved from being anti-union, as I've related here in the past the union actually got enough signatures for a vote in the first hospital I worked in and lost because we felt at the time management, pay, and benefits were comparable to union hospitals of the day.

Not so in any more, sad to say.

Also, I'm sorry if my question sounds dumb, but it was my understanding that the force behind ratios in California was not the ANA, but a group that is now known as National Nurses United.

Anyone who can shed light on this thanks in advance!

Edit: have discovered since asking that the CNA broke off from the ANA in 1995 and is now affiliated with NNU.

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Specializes in ICU.

This is in regards to the comment posted about ICU nurses in Florida having 3 patients. At my previous hospital, we took 4 patients each in ICU, and floor nurses took 8!

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Specializes in critical care, ER, health policy.

Good luck with that!

We are all striving for the same goals as bedside nurses- fair ratios so we can do actual nursing, not just medical task completion.

I have read just abiout every book regarding politics in nursing, and believe me, I've also been actively engaged in the political process. I know what goes on behind closed doors. I've been a nurse for almost 30 years, and in healthcare for 40 years.

I've also done internships in D.C. and in my state.

Your state asociation, with only a few exceptions, is an ANA affiliate.

I don't want to argue, but your understanding of the political process is naive if you think these things are just going to happen.

However, I don't know what state you practice in, that is correct.

Maine, Minnesota, and Massachusetts are moving forward. New York also has an active state association.

In spite of this, California is the ONLY state to have enacted practice protection for nurses in terms of ratios. We have to change that.

Again, good luck!

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Where do you find the nursing surveys? In the book? Where can nurses find more info at a safe place. How do we figure out which organization is working against us or with us? If you google union prevention, you'll be surprised how many companies specialize in preventing nurses from organizing. There is special training in this.

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Specializes in critical care, ER, health policy.

In response to the 4 patient assignments in ICU-

Unbelievable!

Why do we put up with this???????

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Specializes in critical care, ER, health policy.
Where do you find the nursing surveys? In the book? Where can nurses find more info at a safe place. How do we figure out which organization is working against us or with us? If you google union prevention, you'll be surprised how many companies specialize in preventing nurses from organizing. There is special training in this.

There are some surveys available_

The ANA surveyed 76,000 nurses in 2004 and you can find those results.

There have been other surveys, but it's difficult when you survey nationally because you don't know what position nurses have and that can greatly influence the responses.

This is one of the biggest problems we have as academics (at least for those of us who care about such things), nursing surveys are generally proprietary to the group that surveyed them, and most facilities don't want the survey data coming out for obvious reasons.

While Magnet facilities SHOULD be releasing this data, thay too are very proprietary and were analysing the data themselves. Not sure if that has changed or not.

Facilities, in general, do not want researchers coming in and surveying their nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Good luck with that!

We are all striving for the same goals as bedside nurses- fair ratios so we can do actual nursing, not just medical task completion.

I have read just abiout every book regarding politics in nursing, and believe me, I've also been actively engaged in the political process. I know what goes on behind closed doors. I've been a nurse for almost 30 years, and in healthcare for 40 years.

I've also done internships in D.C. and in my state.

Your state asociation, with only a few exceptions, is an ANA affiliate.

I don't want to argue, but your understanding of the political process is naive if you think these things are just going to happen.

However, I don't know what state you practice in, that is correct.

Maine, Minnesota, and Massachusetts are moving forward. New York also has an active state association.

In spite of this, California is the ONLY state to have enacted practice protection for nurses in terms of ratios. We have to change that.

Again, good luck!

^I don't know if this is in response to ME, but then again, I'll say it again...

1) YOU don't KNOW what state I'm in;

2) NO NEED for LUCK...VERY active in my state, very involved, and IT will happen...I'm TOO EMPOWERED and involved to make sure the issues for nurses in my state to have ratios and continued respect and power over their practice...even if it takes me until I'm six feet under.

3) Spare me condensation...unity instead of division. If anything, respect the fact I'm past 30% of my career and I am paving the way by being a grass roots activist where most nurses burn out in my generation.

Again, instead of saying "GOOD LUCK" RESPECT that I am active...you don't know me.

I come from deep union roots, GENERATIONS in my family. I am PRO-Union, and I think more nurses need to get involved, especially at the state level. Reach out to those unions, collaborate. First start at the state, then move to the federal...but FIRST, we have to get the elephant in the room in regards of nurses' attitudes in the POWER of the practice.

I'm FAR from naive...I've been educated well not from the classroom but the "hard knocks" of life. I will continue to empower others, I suggest you do the same...collaborate, collaborate, collaborate...

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Specializes in critical care, ER, health policy.

I meant good luck in the best way. You're right, and as I said before, I don't know what state you are in.

Good luck!

Unity will depend on who is doing the unification and what their goals are.

With ANA membership at less than 5% and most ANA related state associations in the same boat, it just becomes a matter of financial reality.

Political effectiveness does not happen very often do to noble intentions. Being "engaged" in the political process is not the same thing as being politically effective.

Glad to hear you are pro-union. Personally, I think the state solution is the easiest, and only 1 group has managed that..

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