I will probably regret asking this...

[kids]

exactly how does higher wages and better benefits translate into better or safer patient care?

I admit I am more than a little confused by the whole union debate.

[EllanRN]

Where I worked before, we were not union. There was a lot of comradrie between managers and staff nurses. When problems arose management was just as eager as we were to find a solution. There were committees that we participated to address different issues. My pay was lower, but my benefits were better. We had no staffing issues, retention was a problem but I felt it was because we hired a good deal of young, new grads. The older folks stayed. Now I work at a different hospital and would gladly trade my higher pay for the attitude that my other hospital had. People here whine about everything and there is a lot of backstabbing. Sure, retention is better, but everyone seems miserable.