Ohio Nurses Speak Out

RN Power Ohio · Jan 24, 2008

One question, what has changed since then that has improved environmental factors and staffing? Nothing. I suppose you did not look at the OBN and OHA websites for the Ohio stats on number of nurses.

I don't think that anyone is looking at mandated minimimum ratio's as the total solution to the nursing crisis but even Suzanne Gordon stated in her presentation in Cleveland the other night "ratio's are an essential basic step for a much needed change in nursing". I recommend everyone read her book "Safety In Numbers: Nurse to patient ratio's and the future of healthcare" as soon as it is released in April. It is a comprehensive discussion of the evolution and developement of mandated minimum ratio's in both California and Victoria. In addition the results of new study done by Linda Aiken reporting the positive changes in the workforce in California as a result of ratio implementation.

She also commented on the wonderful work of the Massachusetts Nurses.

Visit their website and watch the testimony presented there for their ratio bill. http://www.massnurses.org/

I suppose it all comes down to what you believe your duty is...

"We commit ourselves to any wrong or degradation or injury whenever we do not protest against it." Lilian Wald, RN, Activist, Reformer 1867-1940

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Terry RN · Jan 25, 2008

Thank you RN power Ohio. Ohio families deserve better than HB346. it is unenforcable and not real staffing legislation:pumpiron:

Ohio NNOC is preparing to introduce the Ohio Hospital Patient Protection Act. In the meantime we are lobbying against Ohio HB 346 "common sense staffing legislation".
http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/january/ohio-nurses-to-testify-wednesday-against-hospital-industry-s-fake-healthcare-reform-bill.html

Terry RN · Jan 25, 2008

Sad but true.... Ohio direct care nurses have very little input in staffing issues and HB 346 will due nothing to fix it. Does Ohio have any regulation on the critical boarding of patients??? the use of virtual beds in the emergency room??? If we are overwhelmed can we demand help??? I think not. We as Ohio nurses have the duty to advocate for our patients but not the right. meaning we can keep our license but not our job. We must not settle for legislation that promises nothing more than to talk about this more. We must have legislation that limits the number of patients we can care for at any given time and limits floating to situations where the nurse is familar and competant. There can be no floating nurses into areas that they are not ready or comfortable being in. We can fix this. We can demand lunches and breaks.

HB346 is not even close to the answer. :twocents:

Nurseslight · Jan 25, 2008

Not to worry MBA, a lot of nurses are confused as to why ONA would support HB346, but then again...

Who do the nursing service and nursing education administrators speak for?

They speak on behalf of their employers - the hospitals, the hospital association, Universities, etc, etc. They do not speak for direct care RNs.

CintiRN · Jan 27, 2008

After reading all the comments on this site,I would question the motives of the NNOC in Ohio. Has anyone read the HB346? Alot of information is available on ONA,OBN and AACCN web sites. While I agree that there are multitude of issues facing nursing, Fighting amoung ourselves is counter productive. Research all the facts before you make a choice of who to believe.

RN Power Ohio · Jan 27, 2008

After reading all the comments on this site,I would question the motives of the NNOC in Ohio... Research all the facts before you make a choice of who to believe.

The mission of NNOC in Ohio and every state is as follows:

The National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) is a new national union and professional organization for Registered Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses, and RN organizations throughout the country who want to pursue a more powerful agenda of patient advocacy that promotes the interests of patients, direct care nurses, and RN professional practice. NNOC was founded by the California Nurses Association in the spring of 2004 with the support of a growing number of nurse organizations that are seeking more effective representation and wish to join the movement being led by CNA. Through the NNOC, RN organizations and non-organized RNs around the country are able to work together to achieve dramatic progress for direct care nurses and patients in their facilities, their communities, their states and at the national level.

Also- please see my earlier posts with facts about HB 346- it is the same law that has failed in Tx, Ca, MA and is having trouble being implemented in Oregon. Read the all telling fiscal analysis- link above.

CintiRN · Jan 28, 2008

The mission of NNOC in Ohio and every state is as follows:
The National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) is a new national union and professional organization for Registered Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses, and RN organizations throughout the country who want to pursue a more powerful agenda of patient advocacy that promotes the interests of patients, direct care nurses, and RN professional practice. NNOC was founded by the California Nurses Association in the spring of 2004 with the support of a growing number of nurse organizations that are seeking more effective representation and wish to join the movement being led by CNA. Through the NNOC, RN organizations and non-organized RNs around the country are able to work together to achieve dramatic progress for direct care nurses and patients in their facilities, their communities, their states and at the national level.
Also- please see my earlier posts with facts about HB 346- it is the same law that has failed in Tx, Ca, MA and is having trouble being implemented in Oregon. Read the all telling fiscal analysis- link above.

Thank you for sharing the vision/mission statement. This does not include the personal motive or agenda of NNOC. If you truely wish to better patient outcomes and support the bed side nurse, all nurses, why would you spring off another orgainization to facilitate seperatism? Why would you not seek to join the exsisting orgainizions to support and further nursings voice as one? I have a vested interest in Ohio because I live and work here. I am a bedside nurse in a collective bargaining unit and belong to other professional organizations. THese orgainizations speak for nursing as one voice. Doctors work together and accomplish much. We seem to continue to struggle amoung ourselves and get nowhere.

RN Power Ohio · Jan 28, 2008

Thank you for sharing the vision/mission statement. This does not include the personal motive or agenda of NNOC. If you truely wish to better patient outcomes and support the bed side nurse, all nurses, why would you spring off another orgainization to facilitate seperatism? Why would you not seek to join the exsisting orgainizions to support and further nursings voice as one? I have a vested interest in Ohio because I live and work here. I am a bedside nurse in a collective bargaining unit and belong to other professional organizations. THese orgainizations speak for nursing as one voice. Doctors work together and accomplish much. We seem to continue to struggle amoung ourselves and get nowhere.

I live and work in Ohio too. NNOC leaders and members in Ohio -live and work in Ohio. I have a vested interest as well. I have been a member of the "existing organization" and did not feel they represented my concerns as a direct care nurse nor did I feel they were effective patient advocates. In addition, I find the tactics of that organization to be more in favor of the hospital than either nurses or patients. Are you aware that there are MANY organizations that represent nurses in Ohio? Is anyone critical of SEIU nurses, AFSCME nurses UAW nurses? They do not believe that the Ohio organization is right for them either. In fact, it is safe to say that the majority of Ohio and US nurses do not agree with "the state and national nursing organizations". NNOC members here are not the only ones who feel the way I do about "the Ohio Organization". Frankly, I feel there was not a fitting organization for me in Ohio until NNOC.

If you read the comments from an ONA nurse earlier in this forum you can see that our opinions on advocacy and action vary greatly. Altec RN states she is not opposed to ratio legislation and is fighting for HB 346 because it is a "baby step". I do not believe we as nurses should be clouding the issues with the public and legislators by suggesting half-measures be implemented -if one can even call HB 346 a half measure- as it merely attempts to codify the status-quo. It is an injustice to our patients to provide them with yet another false reassurance (like Magnet).

Somehow all the voices I hear from organizations echo in favor of the hospital and nursing executives with the exception of NNOC Ohio.

Nurseslight · Jan 28, 2008

"Why would you not seek to join the exsisting orgainizions to support and further nursings voice as one"?

We are direct care nurses in Ohio who are joining together because we are tired of the far too moderate approach to this crisis. We have decided to join forces with more like minded nurses who are working on a more aggressive approach, the NNOC.

Unsafe staffing is the number one reason nurses are leaving the profession. We need a limit to the number of patients a nurse can be assigned. Our patients need it too. The other organizations just don't seem to get it!

Julia RN · Jan 28, 2008

Thank you for sharing the vision/mission statement. This does not include the personal motive or agenda of NNOC. If you truely wish to better patient outcomes and support the bed side nurse, all nurses, why would you spring off another orgainization to facilitate seperatism? Why would you not seek to join the exsisting orgainizions to support and further nursings voice as one? I have a vested interest in Ohio because I live and work here. I am a bedside nurse in a collective bargaining unit and belong to other professional organizations. THese orgainizations speak for nursing as one voice. Doctors work together and accomplish much. We seem to continue to struggle amoung ourselves and get nowhere.

CintiRN-

I'm a little confused by your comments concerning "seperatism" and the importance of speaking with one voice.

ONA recently disaffiliated from its national union, the UAN, along with three other states. This has created more division among nurses nationally.

NOCC joined the AFL-CIO in 2007. The UAN, as well as other unions which represent nurses in Ohio, are members of the AFL-CIO. They coordinate many actions, including lobbying for federal staffing legislation (H.R. 2123), through "RNs Working Together", a structure of the AFL. The UAN has also partnered with the SEIU in this campaign for H.R. 2123 which would establish national minimum staffing ratios that are adjustable for acuity and other factors.

Hundreds of thousands of nurses are united nationally through these organizations to speak with one voice on issues affecting nursing and healthcare. This was an unprecedented opportunity to experience the power of collective action on a national level. If the states that left the UAN felt changes were needed, they would have the opportunity to do this in March at the national assembly. They had the numbers to make it happen. Instead, we are further fragmented.