Should nurses strike?

[clint]

Should nurses strike? Would you cross the picket line?

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

Hey Gomer,

Why are you opposed to unions? I am undecided. i don;t think I know enough to judge yet. Input would be appreciated.

[nowplayingEDRN]

bender73,

Your opinions are noted.

We are agreeing to disagree.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Please walk softly and forget the big stick!

PS: Gomer.....to unionize or not to unionize that is the topic for another thread :)

[bender73]

Thanks UntamedSpirit.:)

Oh, and don't even get me going on the union issue geek!!!

[nowplayingEDRN]

You are more than welcome.....might I now suggest you exit stage left before creating a frackas in reference to unions, Bender????? :)

[Gomer]

Originally posted by geekgolightly

Hey Gomer,

Why are you opposed to unions? I am undecided. i don;t think I know enough to judge yet. Input would be appreciated.

Have many opinions about unionization, but Untamed Spirit's post indicates that this is not the place for such discussion. And I certainly don't want to upset anyone with my opinions.

[bender73]

Originally posted by Gomer

Have many opinions about unionization, but Untamed Spirit's post indicates that this is not the place for such discussion. And I certainly don't want to upset anyone with my opinions.

You can join me Gomer, you will find me here...

:chair:

[RNPD]

originally posted by Gomer

First, I'm opposed to unions; wont join one, wont work anywhere that is unionized.........if they do strike they must also be willing for face the consequences of their actions...no paycheck, possible patient abandonment charges, loss of their job...without whining, without crying, without blaming others

Those of us who chose to strike do it with the full knowledge that there are consequences to our actions-but patient abandonment charges aren't one of them because patient abandonment doesn't occur. I suggest you check out the legal definition of patient abandonment. Start with your BON.

As for loss of paycheck and loss of job-yes that can happen. But paychecks were easily replaced by working agency during a prolonged strike I participated in; loss of job is usually covered in the back to work agreement-as in no contract ratification unless everyone is assured of the same position they left.

As far as "whining......, crying........, (and)...... blaming others" I never saw that during the entire strike. Since you refuse to work at a unionized facilty, I doubt you ever saw that as well.

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally posted by geekgolightly

Hey Are you striking Tenent? You were the one who posted that Tenent article right? when I looked them up, in my state they were the ones responsible for the highest mark up in all ten of the hospitals listed. As high as 700% here.

Do you ahve any insight or interesting articles on them?

I don't work at a Tenet hospital so am not technically on strike. A Tenet per diem job every other Saturday was my second job.

I do support them for trying to keep their hospital open. Made a 2 hour drive after working all night (slept while friend drove) to demonstrate outside the Tenet headquarters. I met an RN who has worked at the striking hospital 41 YEARS! Her retirement is not enough for medigap health insurance! Ant the CEO who was forces to resign gets more than a million $$$ a year after about 12 years!

HE gets big retirement $$$ but Tenet would rather close or pay expensive replacement nurses for months rather than negotiate with their RNs.

I quit when Tenet took over my 2nd job hospital. I am afraid for my community because I live there. SAD! and wrong priorities!

I prefer an all RN union without a 'partnership' with management' These partnerships are a gag order on patient advocacy. Go the Nursing politics and advocacy forum to fine the SNA in your state. Most are a separate part of the ANA

https://allnurses.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=100

And my union:

http://www.calnurse.org

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/profassoc.htm

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/100years.htm

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/newlyorganized.htm

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/top5-1.htm

http://cna.igc.org/cna101/top5-3.htm

And regarding Tenet:

http://cna.igc.org/cna/watch/tenet/

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=43028&section=BUSINESS&subsection=OC_REGION&year=2003&month=6&day=10

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39075

Link to former Tenet thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthr...&threadid=37511

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

I feel as if I have struck gold.

Thank you spacenurse.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

posting resources re striking, patient abandonment and mandatory overtime:

principles for nurse staffing

http://nursingworld.org/readroom/stffprnc.htm

organizing & collective bargining

http://nursingworld.org/dlwa/barg/index.htm

restructuring, work redesign, and the job and career security of registered nurses

http://nursingworld.org/readroom/position/workplac/wkcareer.htm

the right to accept or reject an assignment

http://nursingworld.org/readroom/position/workplac/wkassign.htm

patient vs. employment abandonment

the difference could mean your license.

http://nursingworld.org/ajn/2000/june/wrights.htm

from: opposition to mandatory overtime

patient abandonment is . . .

a unilateral severance of the established nurse-patient relationship without giving reasonable notice to the appropriate person so that arrangements can be made for continuation of nursing care by others. refusal to accept an assignment (or a nurse-patient relationship) does not constitute patient abandonment.

http://nursingworld.org/readroom/position/workplac/revmot2.htm

the position of the

pennsylvania state nurses association on mandatory overtime

includes pa bon regs on abandonment

http://www.psna.org/practice/overtime.htm

right to strike:

http://nursingworld.org/uan/mn.htm

what about strikes?

http://www.nysut.org/fnhp/organize-faq.html#strikes

canada

the right to strike and the provision of emergency services in canadian health care

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/whatsnew/righttostrikepr.html

saskatchewan union of nurses

http://www.sun-nurses.sk.ca/media/1999/may_12.html

international council of nurses:

http://www.icn.ch/psstrike.htm

ufcw nurses

http://ufcw141nurses.org/joinus.htm

europe:

http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/sectors/8_1999.html

australia:

hidden laws will stop right to strike

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/24/1053585743737.html

nurses strike- one year latter:

http://news.mpr.org/features/200206/26_scheckt_nurseupdate/index.shtml

opinion's on striking:

http://www.nursingworld.org/tan/01marapr/letters.htm

julie mentioned in article is our _jt!

adding jcaho to round out discussion---see their report at link below.

jcaho: casualties tied to gaps in nursing

nursing shortage

nurse staffing levels were deemed a contributing factor in...

50% of ventilator-related incidents.

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42% of surgery-related incidents.

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25% of transfusion incidents.

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25% of delays in treatment.

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25% of infant abductions.

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19% of medication errors.

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14% of inpatient suicides.

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14% of patient falls.

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sources: joint commission on accrediting healthcare organizations analysis of 1,609 incidents from 1996

through march 2002.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=171718#post171718

all of the above articles/resources show why when management won't listen to the experts they've hired to care for patients (nursing staff), that to protect the health and welfare of patients and the nurses ability to safely provide care without jeopardizing their license, rn'sand lpn's have the legal and ethical duty to strike to bring about effective change.

[Hardknox]

:eek:

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

thats it! karen for president!