For nurses union, Ebola scare is just another fight

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Found at Philadelphia Inquirer:

For nurses union, Ebola scare is just another fight

Lydia DePillis, Washington Post

Posted: Sunday, October 19, 2014, 1:08 AM

...DeMoro's union - the 185,000-member National Nurses United (NNU) - has for weeks been decrying the lack of protective measures at the Dallas hospital where an Ebola patient had been treated. Then, while other groups issued mild statements or nothing at all, they sent a letter to President Obama, Congress, federal agencies, and state governors demanding more protections for health-care personnel. "If the nurses controlled the resources, there wouldn't be an Ebola crisis in this country," she roared to her fellow nurses, singling out declining emergency-preparedness budgets. ....

This is business as usual for NNU. It's one of the nation's youngest unions, but it's also one of its most aggressive, on subjects that more traditional unions won't touch - and it's been making more headlines than labor groups many times its age. It does opposition research on political candidates, it uses fiery language, and weighs in on topics that seem far afield from nursing, such as fossil fuels and bank taxes.

It is not an approach that all other unions agree with, and not one that makes all nurses, known for being anything but combative, comfortable. Some other unions "roll their eyes when they hear at the NNU," said Patricia Pittman, an associate professor in the department of health policy at George Washington University, who has studied the health-care workforce. "They don't view them as representing their kind of nursing" - which might involve a more genteel, bedside manner sensibility...

.."Direct care staff nurses began to feel that the professional associations were not representing their interests. That led to a split in the nursing community," says Pittman. "It's very much 'roll up your sleeves, put up your fists and don't mess with me.' They're tapping into a lot of rage for working conditions for nurses." ...

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20141019_For_nurses_union__Ebola_scare_is_just_another_fight.html#wvkHiZHeYL89dZsY.99

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

The reporter got the reason we left the ANA wrong. I was one of those who raised my hand to vote, "Yes" to being independent.

That morning ANA President Virginia Trotter Betts met the our local delegates and told us it was unprofessional to insist on safe staffing ratios. We were not ladylike to do an informational picket to inform the public that staffing ONE RN for up to 30 patients on the night shift was unsafe.

We would be happy to just go to work and care for our patients IF we had needed staffing, supplies, and equipment. But until and unless hospital management takes nursing issues seriously we have no choice except to advocate for our patients.

A short history of the organization:

101 power | National Nurses United

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

​I rejoined ANA for a year last year, just to see if things had changed. They hadn't. NNU is getting things done for bedside nurses. They are the voice of today's nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I am a support member of the NNU, and support everything they do. :up:

They are forced of good to be reckoned with! :yes:

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The reporter got the reason we left the ANA wrong. I was one of those who raised my hand to vote, "Yes" to being independent.

That morning ANA President Virginia Trotter Betts met the our local delegates and told us it was unprofessional to insist on safe staffing ratios. We were not ladylike to do an informational picket to inform the public that staffing ONE RN for up to 30 patients on the night shift was unsafe.

We would be happy to just go to work and care for our patients IF we had needed staffing, supplies, and equipment. But until and unless hospital management takes nursing issues seriously we have no choice except to advocate for our patients.

A short history of the organization:

101 power | National Nurses United

unbelievable,I am getting more impressed with this organization (nnU)

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http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20130824/INFO/130829987

In 2013 the president of NNU was voted as # 35 of the most influential people in health care.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Rose Ann DeMoro is the executive Director of NNU.

She was originally hired by the direct care RN elected officers and Board of Directors of the California Nurse's Association (CNA).

NNUPresidents_zpsf02caa5c.jpg

Registered Nurses and NNU Co-Presidents: Jean Ross, Karen Higgins, Deborah Burger

About NNU | National Nurses United

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