mdfog10

sounds like a management problem. Managers need to be clear with job expectations for all staff and follow up when job requirements are not met.

The Science of Ratios https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/science-of-ratios

There is no Nursing shortage, but a shortage of RNs willing to work in hospitals that treat us as disposable units of labor costs. I am seeing nurses burn out very early. We need to be United to work to improve working conditions in our hospitals. Lift teams, lift equipment, Nurse to patient ratios, workplace violence plans and prevention, etc, etc

In my union , I as a nurse rep do the following: educate nurses about our contract, educate nurses about our union Professional Practice committee that meets monthly and can bring the CNO in to deal with practice and safety issues, educate nurses about our union form (assignment despite objection ) to document potentially unsafe, unsafe situations and insufficient staffing, I answer questions and offer support on how to handle clinical situations and responses to management. I help nurses advocate for their role as patient advocate and their rights as a union member. As a nurse rep I have also been a member on the bargaining team, helping to negotiate our contract with the hospital. and on and on....

I applaud this nurse e who was willing to stand up for what is right. It is not always easy , but she did the right thing and was validated! Nurse Hero!!

I love meeting nurses from all over the world. I know that we all have the same issues , no matter how small or big the country is. We need to work together , whether it is in our hospital, our state, our country and the world to make positive changes.

total of 75 minutes of break time for 12 hour shift, with dedicated RN break relief

We all are the "union". So make sure your reps know what is going on and work together to make change. In my experience , when Nurses are united on an issue and willing to take it on, management pays attention. It is a fight, and will always be a fight, but it is worth it.

Janfrn said it well. Even with a Union it takes all members to enforce the contract. I am a member and every day at work I need to know my contract and my rights. If the hospital can get away with short staffing you they will. It takes us to hold them to it. Filing a assignment despite objection form may or may not bring immediate change but it will protect you and help in the fight to make conditions better. The hospital expects 100% from me , so I will also hold the hospital to their responsibility.

I don't understand why your professor is against mandated nurse to patient ratios. Have they or their family never been in the hospital? Mandated nurse to patient ratios are needed because hospitals will not do it on their own. Nurses and other staff are only viewed as a "labor" cost and always an area that can be cut. I had a CNO admit that nurse to patient ratios saved her from being forced to cut the nursing staff. Patients are sicker and moved out of the hospital faster than ever before. Nurses are constantly required to do more, faster and better. Yet if we make a mistake , the hospital is immediately pinning all the blame on the nurse. Ratios are critical to us being able to provide safe care. Every day I fight to enforce the ratios because every day my manager is trying to send us home or work us short . Those that say there are downsides of the ratios are either lacking in knowledge of the ratio law or dishonest. Ratios are a minimum , hospitals can increase staff and yet they do not. Well they do when JACHO , Magnet or the state come for a visit. Ratios are cost effective and save lives! Remember , way too many patients still die from medical errors, failure to rescue , etc. Nurses are there for the patients while hospital management is still all about the bottom line $$$$$$$$$

Yes--calling it Employee appreciation month is a clear way to say "You Nurses aren't so special" I don't want a week of pizza, trinkets and events that are only at management convient times. I want true RESPECT--proper staffing and the ability to call in more staff (RNs, assistant, sitters) when needed. Respect and consideration for the assessment and opinion of direct care RNs doing the job. Decent wages , benefits and a pension. Respect is giving RNs the TIME needed to teach, to support and to care for our patients. Happy Nurses Week!!

The "Union" ="the state of being united". The Union is YOU and Me. The Union is no different than any other organization you belong to . You are informed, you vote, you choose to become involved as a member or a leader... You don't like the leadership , then you get involved to change it. WE are the Union. The Union protects a fair process. The Union allows a equal playing field between management and nurses. In my state my Union is run by RNs for RNs. We protect our scope of practice, our state patient protections, our contract and benefits. My Union is a Union and a Professional Association. We care and work for improving our working conditions and our profession. No one works for you--you have to be part of the process.

Congratulations!!!! In my experience it takes a "yes" strike vote to get management to take the nurses seriously.They think they can wear you down and you will quit and go away. At my hosptial we recently settled a two year contract! at the start of bargaining managment had hired a attorney from a known union busting law firm. they opened with trying to take away 20 years worth of contract gains. In the end we held firm and settled a contract with NO TAKEAWAYS!. We have to stand up for our practice, our profession and our contracts!

Our union time with new employees was a fight , but we finally won. Now instead of waiting outside the room , we are all introduced and get to make a presentation.

try National Nurses United