What Has ANA Done for Me Lately?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

8/26/02

read the latest on ana's efforts on behalf of you and your

patients regarding such core issues as the nursing shortage,

health and safety, workplace rights and patient

safety/advocacy.

june 2002 activities:

http://www.nursingworld.org/about/lately/2002/ceojun02.htm

nursing shortage - ana actively addresses the complex factors that affect the supply and demand for nurses. ana is initiating strategies to retain and recruit nurses by improving work environments, increasing educational opportunities, increasing compensation and advocating for laws that strengthen the profession.

attended the american medical association's (ama) 2002 annual house of delegates meeting on june 15-20, 2002, in chicago, il, as an official observer.

ama delegates discussed and took action on the following matters:

*adopted recommendations for further study on a report from the medical education council related to the nursing shortage and its impact on medical education.

*adopted a resolution supporting new money for basic nursing education.

*reaffirmed the existing ama policy calling for supervision of nurse practitioners (np) and physician assistants (pa) and the necessity to educate physicians about the need for this np/pa supervision.

orchestrated a series of meetings, campaigned through lobbying efforts/alerts, and utilized media visibility during the month of june to promote the legislation on the nurse reinvestment act:

met with staff in seven congressional offices:

*explained ana's priorities regarding the ongoing negotiations and to educate congress about the importance of the magnet best practices criteria

*coordinated advocacy efforts with associations representing hospitals, schools of nursing, and nurse executives to assure that congress received a strong, consistent message on behalf of the legislation.

*reviewed drafts of legislation and worked with house and senate champions to assure effective representation of the concerns of nursing.

*distributed grassroots alerts urging nurses across the nation to contact their members of congress in support of the legislation.

worked with state associations to leverage advocacy efforts

*facilitated advertisement in a congressional newspaper, which appeared directly under an op-ed from senator barbara mikulski (d-md) on the nursing shortage that called on congress to pass the bill.

*spoke to gatherings of nursing students and operating room nurses in washington, dc, explaining the importance of the bill:

urged them to support the bill in their lobbying meetings

*advocated effectively to raise the profile of the bill through discussions with members of congress and their staff.

*spurred active negotiations at a time when both the house and senate were otherwise occupied with the medicare prescription drug debate

highlighted articles on the nursing shortage/appropriate staffing, the nurse reinvestment act and nurse retention and quality of care act:

times newspapers of northwest indiana and south chicago

chicago tribune (story slated to run july 14, 2002)

philadelphia inquirer (front-page story ran july 1, 2002)

met with bob inzer from the center for medicare and medicaid services (cms) on june 5, 2002, at ana headquarters in washington, dc, to review ana's organizational perspective on nursing shortage.

appropriate staffing - ana leads the way in research, policy and practice, and workplace strategies to ensure that the number and mix of staff are appropriate - protecting both patients and nurses.

met with senate offices to identify a champion for the development of a strategy to obtain requirements for better nurse staffing in nursing homes in the medicare give-back bill. the genesis of this effort reinforces ana's position as a premier association supporting improved patient care.

provided background information to nursing matters newspaper, madison, wi, regarding the new england journal of medicine report on nurse staffing and patient outcomes (no run date given).

workplace rights - ana protects, defends and educates nurses about their rights as employees under the law.

supported cmas' request for assistance and information:

assisted ohio nurses association in strike preparations for cincinnati university hospital (strike vote approved june 17, 2002 - agreement reached prior to strike date): ad in support placed in cincinnati enquirer (july 1, 2002) and research provided on u.s. nursing corp.

continued followup with cma local bargaining unit leaders in preparation for upcoming contract negotiations, including negotiation support and internal/external communications and pr assistance.

provided research reports and analysis on corporate information to cmas in ohio, alaska, georgia, illinois, missouri, and new jersey.

provided consultation and support to approximately seven uan cmas for organizing campaigns

began election for new members in one campaign (results pending)

provided consultation and education to the virginia nurses association (vna) on the cwpa and strengthening the virginia advocacy program presently in place.

informed the nursing community on workplace rights issues through interviews, conference calls, and other mediums:

facilitated interviews:

philadelphia inquirer regarding article in june american journal of nursing (ajn) on doctors' treatment of nurses (front-page story ran july 1, 2002): psna president zalon

ohio nurses association (ona) president warino,

ajn editor mason (on behalf of ana president foley).

bureau of national affairs news and director of nursing practice schumann on nurses and family and medical leave act issues (story ran week of june 10, 2002)

conducted pilot survey during the ana 2002 convention on the mature and experienced nurse on june 28-june 30, 2002:

collected data on the economic and workplace issues that will encourage the mature and experienced nurse to continue to actively practice and support the transition nurse who chooses to retire. a more comprehensive survey will be conducted on http://www.nursingworld.org later this year.

received approval from the ana 2002 house of delegates on a reference proposal and two policy statements:

"implications of the mature/experience workforce."

guidelines for the nurse and employer on release in the event of a disaster. this is the first ana policy statement addressing the employer.

workplace health and safety - ana fights for a safer workplace by addressing the growing number of hazards that threaten nurses, such as chronic stress, needle stick injuries, latex allergy, back injuries and violence.

highlighted an article on handling/moving patients safely in the health and safety column in the june issue of ajn.

patient safety/advocacy - ana advances its ultimate goal, quality patient care, by effecting positive change around issues that are critical to nursing and its future. today's environment demands action to ensure that patient safety and quality are priorities.

president foley presented keynote address entitled, "holistic nursing for quality care" at the american pacific nurse leaders conference on june 17, 2002 in kosrae, micronesia. approximately 175 plus participants were in attendance.

featured patient safety/advocacy articles in ajn:

quality improvement initiative in nursing homes in the "washington watch" column.

ana's position regarding administration action on health care related regulations in the "issues update"column

issued press release on june 30, 2002, announcing ana/health and human services (hhs) establishment of a national nurses response team (nnrt)

ethics and human rights

participated on conference call with the national coalition for health professional education in genetics (nchpeg) on june 3, 2002.

reviewed and approved the nchpeg strategic plan for the next three years.

met with pennsylvania state nurses association (psna) ethics committee on june 28, 2002, and discussed current issues in ethics and human rights:

the impaired nurse

changes in the newly revised code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements as compared to

the previous code of ethics (1995 to mid 2001) bioethics.

informed the nursing community on ethics and human rights issues through media exchange:

*hosted interview with obgyn news regarding ana's position on the registered nurse in california who was fired for refusing to dispense birth control pills (story ran week of june 17, 2002).

*facilitated interview with wgbh radio in boston, ma, regarding the code of ethics for nurses (story ran june 11, 2002):

language change in the code that pertained to nurses having a right to protect themselves in the face of violence or acts of bioterrorism

*provided definitions and background information on the difference between clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners for non-physician practitioner news (story ran week of june 17, 2002).

nursing standards and guidelines

convened conference call with a diverse group of nurse practitioners and clinicians from across the country on june 13, 2002, to address the revision of the scope and standards of nursing practice.

-------------

check out may happenings

[sjoe]

Well, a lot of studying, recommending, adopting resolutions, etc. as always and DOING NOTHING that really helps anyone. How about picketing and closing down some key government and healthcare institutions FOR A FEW WEEKS. How about sticking your neck out just a little and kicking some butt, instead of just collecting dues and pretending to be DOING something.

[kmchugh]

Sjoe

AMEN.

Kevin McHugh

[alansmith52]

Why would we want supervion of NP's?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Why would we want supervion of NP's?

WE DON"T want supervision of NP's.

Re-read:

"ANA attended the American Medical Association's (AMA) 2002 Annual House of Delegates Meeting on June 15-20, 2002, in Chicago, IL, as an official observer. "

ANA was attending as an OFFICIAL observer of AMA 's activities and was reporting back to the American nurses what the physician's had to say at thier convention.

ANA keeps their eye on the vast array of healthcare organizations at the national level to keep up with evolving changes, especially in areas that may impact nursing's right to practice.

If ANA hadn't participated, nurses across the country would not have access to this info.

Monthly report of activities is available at the

ANA website

[spineCNOR]

I feel that many nurses have the attitude "what has the ANA done for me lately?".

When a minority of nurses nationwide DO NOT belong to professional nursing organizations(at least here in the South that is the case), these organizations are hampered because they don't have the same financial resources of the AMA and the hospital administrators' organization, nor do nursing organizations have the strength in numbers other healthcare organizations have.

In turn, nurses don't join organizations because they feel the organizations have no real power to do anything for them. This creates a no-win situation for both the nurses and the organization.

How can we, as nurses, resolve this situation and join together to have more professional and political clout??

This, my fellow nurses, is the question!

[TELEpathicRN]

The ANA sucks!! Ulness you are a union nurse, they don't give a crap about you, and YES, I am a member that is about to cancel my membership!!!!!! I joined my state NA and they are just as bad! Mary Foley is full of it!!! She reminds me of a politician...... full of hot air. I saw her being arrested along with John Sweeney of the AFLCIO in DC in the nurses were out on strike at WHC. Of course, she did it "for the cause"....sure!!

[Norbert Holz]

I would join the Florida Nurses Association and the ANA if:

- I made enough money to pay the dues

- they represented issues relevent to me

- they represented working nurses

- they would take ACTION to improve my job

- they would elevate nursing from a job to a profession

- actively raise compensation to over 100K per year as entry compensation

- provide a standard contract for nurses services compensation

I know that the folks involved in the FNA & ANA probally feel that they represent nurses. Good for them! I see NO influence of the FNA or ANA in my job(s). They exsist in a higher order than the ordinary nurse and can not relate to the at will employee one pay check away from poverty.

[sjoe]

Mr. Holz--My experience in California with the ANA, then the CNA, then SEIU, has been exactly the same as yours. Only the most gullible person would hold his/her breath waiting for any of those criteria you cited to actually occur. These organizations are too busy with committee meetings and studying the situation and kissing admin and nursing school butt and their own careers and not rocking the boat to do any good. Meanwhile, they don't hesitate to collect large dues.

Now if the Teamsters were interested in organizing nurses....

[pattyjo, MSN, RN]

I am usually more of a reader than a poster to these boards, but I feel like I need to comment on this topic, because I am a little confused.

One poster says ANA sucks unless you are union Then someone else says ANA should be picketing. Then there is a list of things ANA should be doing before the poster will join. I sense alot of anger out there, and I am not sure where it all comes from.

I have been a nurse for a long time, but a member of ANA and my state organization for only a few years. I am also a very proud diploma grad, a staff nurse by choice, and I do not belong to a union. Despite all of that, I am a member of the legislative committee of my local district and active on a state level. No one ever asked me for any special credentials, other than a willingness to work for nursing. PSNA helped to write and develop legislation in our state prohibiting mandatory ot except in emergencies. Members like me lobbied our senators in Harrisburg to sign on to this bill as co-sponsors. Mine did. Mandatory OT is certainly an issue relevant to ordinary working nurses and to our practice. So is needlestick legislation, and other issues worked on by members on a state and national and even local level. Unless you belong to your state organization, or go to the websites or read the messages Karen so generously posts here, you may not be aware of action being taken on behalf of ALL nurses.

Believe me, I appreciate the fact that dues are high, and it may interest you to know that PSNA for one is trying to work on that problem because of the effect it has on membership. So I understand that joining may not be an option for all. But I would ask you all to know that ANA members are not just fanning ourselves and saying "Ain't it awful." We might not be able to come and help out on your units, but we *are* working to help make your workplace safer and your job more positive.

Patty

[sjoe]

pattyjo--

Some of us are referring to unions when we use these initials. I am surprised that you would label yourself a member of ANA and PSNA but NOT as a member of a union. Aren't these unions? Things apparently work differently in Pennsylvania.

What is now called CNA withdrew from the ANA some years ago because the ANA was considered too weak and not sufficiently supportive of nurses to be a useful union for us in California. Now, of course, today's CNA is about the same--a weak, company union for the most part primarily interested in the careers of NON-staff nurses, their own careers included. They mostly like to form committes and "study" problems year after year.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to work for Kaiser or many other facilities without joining CNA. It is mandatory. Same thing holds true for SEIU. So these unions get our dues no matter how poorly they represent us (including not listening to our concerns, not standing up to the administration, etc.) and we have no choice in the matter. See why this pisses people off?

Glad to see you doing such good work in Pennsylvania. With all the current problems in Pittsburgh, perhaps you are helping those nurses out as well.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks, Patty jo!

Glad to know that your experience is the same that I have had in PSNA/ANA.

We welcome all RN's. Period.

It is an individual member's desire/drive, concerns, work experiences, healthcare concerns, healthcare experiences that one brings to the table in shapping OUR state's nurses association. Maybe we are more open, as PA educates the third highest number of RN's in all three education programs.

ANA activities and it's priorities are DETERMNED BY it's members yearly at the June House of Delegates meeting. Each state/constituent group yearly elects the delegates. So individual memebers have a direct say in how the want the state and national asociation run and the activites to be performed.

No one can HEAR you if you don't participate and SPEAK UP.