NNU...Where do I sign!?

Nurses Union

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I want so much to empower nurses and unionize. Unity and protection for the bedside nurses is long overdue. I'm going to get a blood red outfit and make my signs now :)

Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.
Remind me what NNU stands for? :confused:

National Nurses United: National Nurses United

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This was an awesome movie about a women laborer in a factory scene who finally had enough and stood up on a table and screamed NO MORE! That took less than 2 hrs. hehehe. Great recommendation laborer. It's worth watching lkulmann. :D

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I think that if the nurses feel that current unions are corrupt, organize to form new ones. Online technology is sooooo awesome for this. We have a choice - we can build something better and more efficient. It's no longer word or mouth face to face. we have just been so conditioned to be paranoid about workplace espionage and being fired that we are scared to move especially in light of current economic times. I read post earlier that I can't find but it basically stated that you won't find positions where workers in the US don't have time to eat and pee and do their job safely when their job is about keeping our society safe because of healthcare being big business answering to the stock market - heck even the nonprofits are acting worse. HOW DOES THIS CONTINUE? Because we are scared!!!! Stop the backbiting and realize that we are forced into a position of protecting our patients and our license in unsafe conditions - we are scared and are forced to play the blame game because of the set up of our environment. SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW NURSE! We need to support ourselves and stop trying to become management's and the MD's favorite. Have mercy on the new nurses because they probably don't know the crap that is coming their way! Let's be gentle on ourselves and band together.

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I just wanted to add that in my experience there are about 10 to 20% of nurses and techs combined that are burned out, in the wrong line of work, disheartened and beatened down - whatever it is that causes them to practice in a way that does not help. But there are so many that are great and have bad days. These techs need our help too. In many units, our techs help us. I got to a point where I just do what is needed for the patient regardless - but I also learned that because of these times, these techs and secretaries are stressed out too and have too many patients. Food service is also going through it. I also see MDs , PAs and APRNs going through alot of patients. We are all being pressured to do too much for too many with too little in too little time and it's dangerous. As you probably figured out I work in bedside.

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Specializes in Critical-care RN.

Sally Fields got the message Across!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Do you have a secret crystal ball that I should be aware of...you seem to assume an awful lot in this statement.... seriously, what gives? How do you know what everyone knows ... how do you know it won't be easy to find another (job) why do you say no one is going to stick their neck out....how do you know all this?

No, I have no crystal ball. Just.....Working a lifetime as a nurse. Been there done that.

What gives? Experience. 34 years of it. An entire career Watching people leave one person holding the bag when they all were "in it together".

Working at Union facilities both as a member and as administration. Knowing what goes on behind the scenes and what happens to those "trouble makers" who attempt to organize......and this when the economy was good and positions plentiful.

Witnessing/participating in successful and unsuccessful collective bargain contract negotiations and initiation of collective bargaining at facilities.

How do I know these things? I cruise the forums. I read a lot. I have current workplace experience. The job market STINKS..... Nurse unemployment/under employment in some states is an high as 47% especially amongst new grads. The job market is tight and getting a position after you have been fired from one for whistle blowing might prove difficult. Hospitals talk to one another.

Could it be from personal experience that I "know these things" and don't need a crystal ball?

I genuinely hope you succeed. I think the day has finally come that nurses need to join together to protect each other from corporate greed and abuse....like firefighters/teachers/police. I really wish you the best with all my heart. I just think you should go forward with information.

Knowledge is power.....Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed

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No, I have no crystal ball. Just.....Working a lifetime as a nurse. Been there done that.

What gives? Experience. 34 years of it. An entire career Watching people leave one person holding the bag when they all were "in it together".

Working at Union facilities both as a member and as administration. Knowing what goes on behind the scenes and what happens to those "trouble makers" who attempt to organize......and this when the economy was good and positions plentiful.

Witnessing/participating in successful and unsuccessful collective bargain contract negotiations and initiation of collective bargaining at facilities.

How do I know these things? I cruise the forums. I read a lot. I have current workplace experience. The job market STINKS..... Nurse unemployment/under employment in some states is an high as 47% especially amongst new grads. The job market is tight and getting a position after you have been fired from one for whistle blowing might prove difficult. Hospitals talk to one another.

Could it be from personal experience that I "know these things" and don't need a crystal ball?

I genuinely hope you succeed. I think the day has finally come that nurses need to join together to protect each other from corporate greed and abuse....like firefighters/teachers/police. I really wish you the best with all my heart. I just think you should go forward with information.

Knowledge is power.....Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed

I can't help but feel a sense of defeat in your comments. An 'it is what it is' attitude. And you are right...I guess what really bothers me about being a whistleblower is that I reported safety concerns to management and finally to the Department of Public Health which is my responsibility to do...and that was a fire-able issue? How can a State not want to deal with safety concerns? And for all the NNU nurses fighting for better staffing and safety conditions, why aren't they getting fired too. This is surreal and I'm appalled at nurse management at ignoring the issue and going along with it. Any manager I've ever known has pt safety as first priority and staff safety too. If I got fired for reporting unsafe practices then I'm proud of that. I accept my new career as RN Whistleblower. Linda Kulmann RNW....LOL ....The patient safety snitch...ridiculous!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I can't help but feel a sense of defeat in your comments. An 'it is what it is' attitude. And you are right...I guess what really bothers me about being a whistleblower is that I reported safety concerns to management and finally to the Department of Public Health which is my responsibility to do...and that was a fire-able issue? How can a State not want to deal with safety concerns? And for all the NNU nurses fighting for better staffing and safety conditions, why aren't they getting fired too. This is surreal and I'm appalled at nurse management at ignoring the issue and going along with it. Any manager I've ever known has pt safety as first priority and staff safety too. If I got fired for reporting unsafe practices then I'm proud of that. I accept my new career as RN Whistleblower. Linda Kulmann RNW....LOL ....The patient safety snitch...ridiculous!!!

You should be applauded for your stance...I agree with you 100%. The state does want things by the book....the facility doesn't. I am just talking about the reality of nursing. I have often taken the right road and it isn't always an easy road. I have always taken the right road in nursing but it has, at times, been lonely.

The nurses at the NNU aren't getting fired because they have the union. However I have seen many nurses fired wrongfully from facilities with unions ...they all file against the facilities...some win...some lose.

OP...I think you misunderstand me. Maybe I am unable to express that I agree with you 100% but I am just pointing out the realities of what you are up against.

You say I sound defeated.......yes, I guess on some days I am defeated....but I am mostly disappointed at the behaviors so prevalent in nursing management right now...and I have been the poster child for "making them do it right" and standing up for the underdog only to be left out in the cold chained to the bumper in the junk yard.

I have been black balled in the past and it isn't an easy path.

I sincerely wish you the best...I really do. I was just imparting some of my personal experience to you so that you might find a better, or more effective, path to navigate your way.

I step away gracefully. Best of luck

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In my state, Massachusetts, our nurses association fought and won a ban on mandatory overtime for nurses. It was sweet telling my non-nurse manager she could no longer schedule cases for me to sedate after my scheduled hours!

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In my state Massachusetts, our nurses association fought and won a ban on mandatory overtime for nurses. It was sweet telling my non-nurse manager she could no longer schedule cases for me to sedate after my scheduled hours![/quote']

Hahaaaaaaa! Woooohooooo! Man that must a felt good :D

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In my state, Massachusetts, our nurses association fought and won a ban on mandatory overtime for nurses. It was sweet telling my non-nurse manager she could no longer schedule cases for me to sedate after my scheduled hours!
The MNA also made assaulting a nurse illegal. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/massachusetts-house-passes-bill-to-stiffen-penalties-for-those-who-assault-nurses-and-other-health-care-providers-89635837.html
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sneeds, Norma Rae was on last night and I happened upon it by accident. It is so relevant, especially in these times. When she stood on that table near the end, holding her hand-writted sign "UNION" it was a moving and powerful scene. Remarkable film.

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