Very Disturbing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Has anyone else been following the thread under Nurse Activism "Cleveland Clinic destroys wages." The hospital has been using big-business tactics to keep nurses from working agency. Bringing in many foreign nurses also, to keep the domestic nurses in line. Also, some AHA bigwigs in Ohio have even proposed the end to nursing licensure as we know it--want something they call "institutional licensure." (In other words, they want the freedom to train UAP's in situ in response to the nursing crisis, of course, and THEY determine what these "institutionalized licensees" can do, giving medications included). Another thread describes how the illustrious Governor Ventura in Minnesota and other politicos there have frozen agency nurses wages to "force" nurses back into institutions (in this case, nursing homes, I believe). Another poster has alerted us to the fact that in her hospital one answer to the "nursing shortage" is to allow EMT's and paramedics to work in the ICU! I find a very disturbing trend here. The economy turned sour along with the nursing shortage crisis may backfire on all of us. Much pressure is being put on lesiglators by big business AHA-types behind closed doors, to loosen licensure restrictions, to loosen hiring practice, to loosen emmigration restrictions for foreign nurses. These big-wigs are blaming all their problems on nurses, when they created the problem in the first place! The hospitals are truly doing their best to destroy nursing as a profession. The bottom line here is--our wages, our freedom to work where we please, and also, control over our profession and practice environment.

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Here are some excellent links about the big business shenanigans aimed at destroying our profession (my thanks to Oramar for the link to Revolution Magazine):

http://www.revolutionmag.com/newrev4/bust.html

http://www.revolutionmag.com/newrev4/dondrug.html

http://www.revolutionmag.com/newrev2/engineering.html

Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Institutional liscensure has been tried in other states and has always failed. Texas was the last state that I know of that tried. All RNs need to be vigilant and politically active to ensure our professional survival and ultimate growth.

Healing touch, good to see you come on board in regards to political issues. I have been out there spreading the word for about a year and a half now. Must say I have taken a bit of a break after 9/11. Wanted more time with my family. If you are interested I can tell you what is happening and what groups are out there trying to make a difference. There has been a significant split between those who feel the way to go is through the ANA and those that followed the California nurse Association . Some interesting doings there. I can also get you on a e-mail list that gives some very interesting information, not only in the US but throughout the world.

There truly is a revolution that is building, slowly and sometimes quietly, but it is there. It will be accomplished only through nurses who feel a passion for making a difference in their profession.

My floor hosts nursing students throughout the year, except during the summer. With every new group that comes through the instructor makes sure I do some orientation with them. We do a quick ditty with infection control and wound care, the two things I do, then we go into how to make a difference in your profession. I talk about how to advocate for ourselves, why we need to do so, etc.... My administration is very aware of my views and were even before they hired me in as I worked agency for them for 4 months first.

Let me know if you are interested in more activisim. I would be happy to help you get with a couple people or with a list serve or both that would give you some knowledge.

I am still following it...I am the chicken little that originally posted and emailed the paper..by the way not a peep from them..As one of the largest employers in the Greater Ceveland area it is my understanding they will continue to do as they choose..Just had a media fest about a week ago, over a male nurse sexually abusing female patients in post op..The Clinic's initial media response was that it was impossible that one nurse could be alone with patients in post op...Hmmm staffing shortages, lunch breaks ect makes me think this could have occured..The Clinic has bought up many smaller hospitals in the area along with University hospital.There are limited employment choices if you try to go out of the system..Their controling interest is far greater than just the HUGE complex on the near east side..I still believe that the need for all licensed nurses..RN and LPN join together and stop allowing big business to use the age old divide and conquer tactic of select management administration..The diversion is still being an effective and sad practice being utilized at the Clinic and elsewhere..With a few well choosen words the focus shifts to RN/LPN wars and management slides in the Medical assistants or foreign staff or whatever cost saving wonder of the week the have up their sleeve...In the cloak of chaos the detrimental program becomes entrenched...Now shut up and go back to your even worse workload or quit...See how many people are waiting to take your job!!!Most interesting is that the same tactics were used over 100 years ago in the New England mill towns that used primarily females..As a female I am truely begining to wonder why our politics and behaviors are so condusive to these management manipulations...Time and time again I read these posts and am reminded that the hostility seems to outway any type of unification...The hotest meanest posts come from division topics....bashing of Rn's by LPN's or Rn's ridiculing the lack of skills by LPN's...I had posted my original some time ago now and I'm delighted to see someone is still intriged by the ramifications..I just continue to be at a loss as to how to channel my dismay at the path nursing is rapidly taking..I feel powerless in the scope of big business and big money ruling in this issue..Can we do anything to raise the group consciousness??? I do you think the more people you can get together for a common benefical cause, the better chance of there being change..This in not some obscure problem only effecting a small group in Cleveland..But a national problem...and if you think that Hospital/Healthcare administrators don't get together and share tips you are really naive..I'm wide open for suggestions...anyone have any?????

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
Let me know if you are interested in more activisim. I would be happy to help you get with a couple people or with a list serve or both that would give you some knowledge.

Yes, RNCountry, I am very interested. Please email me @

[email protected]

Thank you.

PS--it didn't show up too well but that's Healingtouch_

Here is a little know fact: The author of the AMA's proposal to create an alternative form of healthcare providers in response to the Nursing shortage was an [RN-PHD]. Wonder why Nurses can't unite? I am sorry but I do not have her name handy but you can write/call the AMA in Michigan and they will be happy to assist you.

We have the numbers to fight this problem, we just don't know how to use them. John Engler (MI Gov) gave us some raises in his first term in office, I think to get more votes. He made it look like this would be an ongoing thing like a Cost of Living increase. Then he declared we were in a recession, but the economy was doing good, then came 9-11. Everybody (financers and Wall Street alike) jumped in like sheep to the slaughter. He told our county facilities that due to the recession, they would not get the monies (extra's)promised for increased wages. Funny thing happened then, Iosco County Commissioners/board members passed this information to the county nursing home and hospital. We got about 1.5% to 2% instead of the 5% we received the year before. BUT and here is the interesting point, none of the county workers received the better pay raises, while the Board members VOTED THEMSELVES a 6% increase AND RAISE OUR COUNTY TAXES BY, YOU GOT IT, 6%. What gives. They all LIE to Line their own pockets.

When the LTC workers tried to organize a union 7-8 years ago, the facility Administrator showed a video depicting 1920'to 1940's union busting tactics. Yes, I do believe this was illegal, but most of these people really needed the jobs they had and fell off the the band wagon. Some said it took almost 2 years to get off the **** list and started receiving decent evaluations again. This is what we are also fighting. I support nurse who strike for the betterment of their profession, patient care, staffing ratios, etc. However, I also get myself in trouble sometimes with my own mouth. I would join a union that was working for me and the good of my patients, but I am really to scared to start this snowball rolling myself.

Stirlady.

Stirlady, my first nursing job was at Tawas St. Joseph. My now ex was stationed at what was Wurtsmith AFB. I would be interested in hearing more about what is happening in that part of the state.

Also please note that the Supreme Court ruled last year against unionization for RN's in nursing homes. It will likely come up again because it was poorly argued by the National labor board. The ruling states RNs are supervisors and therefore ineligible for unionization. That does not however, preclude another to make the argument for unionization in nursing homes. And frankly the only way for tactics like were used in your facility to stop is for it to be turned into the National Labor Relations Board, a complaint has to be made. What the facility did was highly illegal.

Please let me know how the north country is doing. And by the way I wouldn't piss on Gov. Engler if he was on fire.

What does the AMA think about this trend? I take it that the govenor is not a history buff.

Healingtouch

The article on pharmacy mergers increasing drug prices to hospitals and forcing them to lay off staff is questionable. The last I knew the price of medicine is passed off to the patient with a formidable markup. It seems that insurance companies and medicare would be concerned.

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

I thought that particular article had some interesting information. Had never heard that argument before. But I think the major point is that WHENEVER there are expenses (from whatever source, be it Medicaid reimbursements, indigent care, sky-high drug or equipment costs, poor management, etc, etc) that are threatening the BOTTOM LINE for a facility, nursing staff and ancillary are the first to be cut to make up for it. As we all know, this results in unsafe working conditions, which further accelerate attrition of nursing staff. All this occurs over and over again, because our profession as a whole lacks clout.

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