Published Nov 1, 2015
lumberjackAZRN
10 Posts
Hi everyone!
I know this thread has a lot of union information, but I am wondering if anyone has information or ideas on how to raise money for a unit based council?
I work in an ED (the busiest in the state) and some nurses and I are considering starting a unit based council (management has approved). Some reasoning for starting the council is to help improve moral, increase educational training, employee feedback, etc...
Some things we want to do of course will cost money and I am new to this and looking for some ideas on how to fund our unit based council.
Any ideas are appreciated. :)
Thanks!
jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B
9 Articles; 4,800 Posts
If you want to increase training, I would ask whomever wants to be a part of it to pay $20 a year in dues. This would go towards educational CEU's for nursing licenses. BUT you would have to set up some sort of account for all that money to go.
Anything else and you may have to go through your facilities PR/marketing people. Only because you can't really ask for donations if it is against company policy.
I would go back to the manager and ask if in the budget, how much is budgeted for say mich. supplies or education, or a general fund. Perhaps your council can drive where those funds go.
Or your marketing people can discuss grants, or specific donators/donations that come in for the ED be funneled to your group.
It is a great idea, you just need to involve other resources as to not go against established guidelines.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
88 Articles; 21,268 Posts
Moved to Emergency Nursing
chansen
45 Posts
If they are department beneficial, try and make the department pay for them. If you work in a place that is not willing to help improve the work environment, morale, and flow with cost-effective, thought-out solutions, and expect the employees to pay for it themselves, then there may be a culture problem at your facility.
Some things we've paid for out of pocket, but for any project that we've created within our group, we push it through management to get it funded first and foremost.
Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,816 Posts
You don't need money to form a Unit Based Council. You set a meeting date, and at the meeting you choose the chair person and the secretary and draft a charter. Thinking about funding projects before you've even formed your council is putting the cart WAY before the horse.
Studentnurse365
81 Posts
I too want to start a unit based council. I would like to set up a ride board for car pooling, get people more involved in community events such as walks and fundraiser, have silly contests once a month like guess how many jelly beans in the jar, birthday boards, secret santa, things to boost moral... however the people on my unit, at least the ones at night, don't really want to get involved in anything [which is also why I think we need it, they need to feel appreciated again] very few people on nights actually like coming to work. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can get people involved when they don't even want to be at work when they are getting paid I am all ears!