RN130

We pointed out to our Magnet Surveyors that many of the components that made us a successful magnet candidate were actually advances that we had to fight for in our union contract. -- paid time for unit based councils that worked on practice and work life issues (not decor and parties) paid ed time, paid meeting time, nurse practice committee, STAFFING LEGISLATION -- yeah Washington --safe Lifting legislation. But if keeping the designation will motivate the Hospital to maintain those programs it will be a better thing.

For procedures try mosbys on line, document carefully. it sounds kind of weird, maybe you should run the other way....

Not really interested in switching Unions. One of the strongest things we have going is that this Union knows Prov from way back and does not back down.

Hi. We had lot's of fun. We Were in negotiations the whole day (till 2300). I have to say management seemd to be playing a very lawyer centered hard ball game and basically refusing to negotiate. delay delay and not interested--. Very sad, i really got a sense of the true depth of how little respect they have for their RN staff. This does bring nurses together tho--we know we have to take care of ourselves and each other because management is not on your side.

Providence St peter Hospital Nurses will be picketing the Hospital from 6 am to 8 pm on JULY 30th. Come Join Us to show support. All you nurses at Mason, Capital and Centralia know that your contract will follow as our has. And look out up north if we let the DWT get any take aways.... Solidarity Works.

You could be replacing me in a few weeks. We have been without a contract since March 1 and Negotiating since january.. Perhaps, before you become embroiled in such a situation, you should find out why the nurses are striking. From experience I can tell you that nurses do not come to this decision lightly. We are dealing with the largest cathloic healthcare organization on the west coast (Providence) and Davis Wright and Tremaine--the international law firm that wrote the book for management. We are run ragged for profit -- and can not give safe quality care. Our CBA protects us and gives us a voice in how the ceare will be provided for our patients-- Along with wages issues such as FMLA, meals and breaks, guarenteed shift start times, hours worked and staffing are still on the table. Is there a reason that you are signing up for this kind of work -- knowing, as you must that you are coming from outside and helping to destabilize the local nurses efforts at improving their working conditions?

Churchill: "trust The Americans To Do The Right Thing....after They Have Tried Every Thing Else." We Will Get To Single Payor--there Are Compelling Fiscal And Moral Reasons Why. Unfortunately Too Many People Are Making Too Much Profit To Give It Up Without A Fight.

In Some Fashion Nurses Need To Collectively Join Together To Make Their Voices Heard. If You Feel That You Can "negotiate" The Best Deal For Yourself--i Have No Way To Evaluate What You Think A "good Deal" Is. But For Nurses, Often It Is Not Such An "individual Case" Issue -- How Is Your Healthcare Benefit? Your Disability Plan? Vacation And Sick Leave.....those Are All Negotiated By The Employer For Groups --not Individuals. In Terms Of A Voice For Nursing Right Now It Is The Various Unions That Are Going To Management In Individual Cases And To The Legislature For Improving Working Conditions (no Mandatory Overtime/ Safe Lifting/staffing,meals And Breaks) For Everyone. How Do You Think Laws Regarding Nurse Practice, Education, Patient Safety, Insurance Coverage, Etc Come Into Play--groups Get Together Representing The Interests Of Their Members --if Your Hospital Is A Member Of A State Hospital Association That Is Their Union,

Ah, the devil is in the details.. I think it is vital that your Union -- certainly the Local is BY AND FOR NURSES. that being said, healthcare is big business and you need a National /International voice -- an umbrella organization. The strength of any Union is in it's members participation and the Internationals have different stuff to offer (education/training ect.. as well as a voice in lobbying.) Don't kid yourself we need representation in the state and national legislatures more than ever. Decisions are being made in the capitals that affect our work as nurses. Your Hospitals all belong to Hospital Associations who send lobbyists --in some fashion Nurses need lobbyists and if we join together we can afford to send people to represent NURSES. And yes Union employees do make more money and enjoy better working conditions across the board. What can you do? Meet with the Union leadership in your state and pick the Union you want based on your needs, the members must trust the integrity of their representatives and shop for the best fit for their group. You have more chioces now that we did 20 years ago. And once you get a union -- PARTICIPATE...

You are probably in Olympia now. Sorry to miss this post. Hope which ever one you are at you have found your nitch. Olympia loses alot of new nurses to Tacoma because of poor working conditions ,(30%turnover in first year/50% in second.) Sorry. It is tough /suck it up from the managers --I hope the staff treat you well....on my unit we try--but there is little extra energy for nurturing our new people.

Washington does not have Ratios -- when we tried for staffing legislation this year we really wanted acuity based staffing. Staffing based on the needs of the patients...What a concept. Our profit driven hospital has instituted a average/budget based system called the "Matrix" (remember the movie--where all the evil people are).. ahem... Any way I work in L&D and we get the same number of staff for 12 patients regardless of wether there are 10 "couplets" and 2 labor patients or 6 labor patients and 6 couplets!!! We have not been able to get management to back off their budget based staffing. Probably because they are making too much money on it. Our nurses are quitting left and right...

I think you need to be aware that while Washington Hospitals (especially the larger private and non profit ones in western wasington) are unionzed and have much better working conditions than some other states they are deteroriating quickly as these large Hospitals refine making money as their main goal. I am not kidding that they seem to be driving their nurses into the ground, we lose most of our new hires in the first two years at Providence in Olympia --- our older nurses have mortgages in town and stay but count the days till retirement. No matter how positive a person you are or how well trained and experienced --this place gives you that old burnout feeling at the end of each day. We are seeing greater and greater ER waits, no replacement of sick calls, and our management ALL came to the Legislature to oppose the safe staffing bill we tried to pass last year.... Management is not behind their nurses--it is a bad feeling. Right now we are working without a contract, because Nurses are holding out for a Professional Nursing voice in STAFFING. Providence Management is actually proposing no guarentee of shift start times and for " management flexibility reasons" wish to be able to change a nurses' hours to what ever they want as long as most of the hours fall on you shift they can start you whenever..... Now is that a recruiting tool??? Say tuned for the next update on "Good Hospitals Gone Bad: How the profit motive is ruining Hospital Care in Washington State."

Yes there certainly is a s nursing shortage. What we see at our hospital is a greeed driven nursing shortage. Our not for profit hospital has an operating margin of over 10% (read that as profit/and the Hospital Association s own PR says a Hospital needs 5-6% to get the best bond rates and pay for capital improvements.... So we see tighter and tighter planned staffing and no one to replace sick/vacation and people who leave.... We are not "burned out" because of any personal defect--it is ok in hospital management to operate this way--burnout is part of the plan---missing meals and breaks, too many patients and fast turnover---it all makes them more money. Yes it is true that some patient populations are stressful --but we are trained to deal with them---- these thing keep happening afer we have begged for help---that is the burnout...

Try LTC--weekends and eves. Hospitals are really not hiring LPN's especially for short term stints who can't work full time. One possible is to try the Float pool manager and go perdiem for them. Stick with nursing it will work out.

I am all for anything that meets nurses needs. If you like your work time packaged like this it is great, and, weekends are a bit less hectic. Does you hospital offer weekend differential? Are your extra shifts at OT (above your FTE?

Nicely thought out, try again with the Union --Look up Info on "The employee free choice act" If it goes thru you can have card check elections and won't have this experience and you won't have to go thru al the negative stuff employers throw at you to start a union.

You have identified and are reacting to some hard truths about our profession. Read Susan Gordans Book "Nursing Against the Odds". You are not alone. Any one who can get over their denial and dysfunction and realize that we (the Nursing profession) are in a hard place can get the the point where they know that Nurses are the ones who have to do something about it. I am working with my Union and on statewide legislation as well as at my work. But anybody can get their own back yard cleaned up first. What would you coach your friend or teenager to do--speak up, be kind, be direct, go to the person who has the power to change it. Understand the the social and economic interests working against you but don't stop at whining and blaming. Take some small piece of what ails you/nursing and make it right. HAve a good cry, then ask for what you want. This may, for some mean leaving nursing--alot do. Maybe you will just start taking your breaks and meals (try it-- it feels weird at first-then you get it--you feel better and reenegized when you go back to work (remember every one around you can sense your resentment-words need not be spoken). Maybe you will defend the next abuse you see against a coworker, maybe you will hold your criticism af a newbie (remember lateral violence happens because you are stressed out in the first place.) Whattever, you might be clumsy but try doing something towards what you think is the right thing.

Residency. Skip the adult floor stuff, look at larger teaching hospitals (usually the case where ever there is a level 3 any way).

MY experience is that Hospitals make the "Nursing Model" changes with the goal of saving money. So beware, get nurses to look at the plan and the patient ratios as well as acuity. Be clear about the scope of practice and each persons responsabilities.

We have studer now. last year we had SOYRING and now we have the MATRIX (which is impossibly short staffing) and remember the movie, the Matrix is where the evil people lived!!! any other experiences with the Matrix.

Contact Jean Sullivan, Executive Director,Washington health professionals Services at the Department of health. She developed the program in the state for dependency issues for nurses and knows all the laws and ploicys and resources. She is a nurse advocate. Good luck.

Ditto er nurse23. Best housing value and schools are south and east of tacoma. (except lakewood as mentioned.)

USNU represents St peter and capitol in olympia, also Harrison, Mary bridge,St joseph, good sam, mason general, virginia mason, prov everett, prov centralia, and a bunch of others. SEIU and WSNA also represent WA Hospitals. For the most part in this era of increasing drive for profits on the part of the hospitals, especially the larger "systems" the Union representation is really protective for the nurses in terms of quality of work life and patient safety. And yes, I'll be one of your Union Reps so let me know if you need any thing.

Welcome to Washington. Lots of folks transition thru here and St Peter gets lots of military folks. The pay scale in washington is one of the best in the country. As to the local hospitals. I have been at St Peter for 20 years. We have 60 Rn openings right now. Our Tele floor has lots of turnover. You might also look at ER and ICu/CCu. We have been struggling with the Matrix-a budget based staffing model and you might be seeing morale at an all time low. With your experience you should be appreciated and you can make a niche for yourself --just pace yourself. There might be a hiring bonus and moving assistance if you look into it. There might also be a referral bonus so try to find some one to split it with!!! I am in Olympia, email me if you would like a tour [email protected].

Prov everett is actually represented by USNU which just settled their contract at prevailing seattle levels after quite a struggle with management.. The Providence System has been making tremendous profits the last couple years and are notorious for short staffing and really not liking or respecting their nurses. Providence is the "largest cathloic health care sstem in the west" so your everett managers must answer to the home office.