Nurses at Allina to strike: What's at stake?

SororAKS, ADN, RN · Oct 5, 2016

Today I Walked Into My Last Shift at United
Kelsey Swenson, Facebook, 9/2/16
... I am a "lifer" at United. 25 years ago, my parents excitedly rushed in for a scheduled c-section and left with unlimited appreciation for the nurses that taught my then new parents how to care for their new bundle of pink joy. It was nurses at United Hospital birth center that diligently assessed and kept my mom and I safe during labor. It was the nurses that taught my dad how to swaddle and comfort his newest joy...
... Flash forward 15 years later to the night by dad was rushed to United's ED with the scary signs of a heart attack, only for my family to find out via CT scan, that Dad had Stage IV colon cancer with mets at the age of 41. It was the nurses at United Hospital 4500 that treated my Dad's pain post-operatively so he could heal. It was the nurses that quickly recognized my Dad had a pulmonary embolism. It was the nurses that called a child life specialist to break the news to his children. His nurse was the one who embraced my stoic father as he broke down crying in front of his family. It was the nurses 18 months later, with such grace, transitioned my dad and his family to comfort care and home hospice so my dad could die in his home surrounded by his family...
... At the age of 22, with a freshly printed diploma in hand, I was the newest nurse to show up in the lobby at United. I was overjoyed to be working at United Hospital. It was the nurses that patiently taught me to take care of my patients. I couldn't have learned what it means to advocate for your patient had it not been for the nurses that showed me...
... My brother was recently hospitalized for 3 months as he was challenged by mental illness. It was one of the hardest things I've done as a nurse, was be one of his supporters. It was the nurses at ANW and on 5920 that comforted me when I was feeling low. It was the nurses that recognized the wonderful, charismatic young man that my brother is and treated him as such. The nurses were the ones to help him cope, give him strength and be an anchor to my family. Navigating the mental health system as a family member was made possible by the amazing nurses that came into contact with us...
... I cannot do this job or continue to do this job without taking care of me first. I have to keep myself strong and safe for my patients. No nurse should have to worry about not "if" but "when" they will be hurt or exposed to something at work. My care should never be compromised because there aren't enough nurses to safely care for the amount of very sick people that we deal with every day. I must stand up for my profession so that there will be experienced, seasoned nurses in the future to teach new and eager nurses, how to be compassionate caregivers....
... It is each and every nurse here that is strong enough to collaboratively say "we deserve better and so do our patients."...
Today I Walked Into My Last Shift at United | National Nurses United

This would be good in the local press.

allnurses Guide · Oct 30, 2016

Nurses Ratify Allina Contract, Strike to End

October 14, 2016 08:16 AM

Thousands of striking Twin Cities nurses ratified a tentative contract agreement with Allina Health Thursday.

A strike that has been ongoing since Labor Day, will end by Sunday morning at 7 a.m...

... The Minnesota Nurses Association Executive Director Rose Roach issued the following statement:

"This contract represents compromise and strength by the nurses. While it's nowhere near what nurses deserve, they can hold their heads high. They can rest easy knowing they won a "no diminishment" clause, so even though they are moving to the corporate health insurance plans, they have assurance that the value of their benefits won't be reduced in any future cost-cutting scheme."...

http://kstp.com/news/nurses-accept-allina-health-contract-strike-/4290815/