CodeQueen

When I was five I watched my dad die from a dissecting aortic aneurysm. About five years later I was diagnosed with a heart problem as well. Years of doctors visits and being sick I developed a deep amazement for the human body. I always thought I wanted to be a doctor but 13 years of school was not possible, so after high school I joined the military to pay for school. After serving four years I began my nursing journey. I have never for a second questioned that I was meant to be a nurse. I really do love my job!!! If I only made the same amount of money as a doctor my world would be complete! (O:

thank you so much for the input. I just heard that this particular union is also trying to get the other services of the hospital to join too. I was a little concerned by this because nurses have such different concerns than many other departments. As for not fearing retaliation when standing up for our patients safety, that would be wonderful..... Thanks again for the reply. I am going to make sure I ask them everything you mentioned!

centralflunionnurse, Thank you for the reply. I have been trying to get ready for the meeting in September because I want to be well informed before I get there. My hospital is really scared and is telling us that the union can't do anything for us. The one thing I guess I am still confused about is has the UFCW helped with the staffing ratios at other hospitals or does it have to be changed at the state level? I know that the UFCW can help us with all of the other issues such as pay cuts and benefits but staffing ratios are priority ONE for many of us.

that was very helpful. Did the union help with ratios as well?

From what I know this UFCW division is run by an RN with 30+ years bedside experience. I don't know if we vote this particular union out if we could unite enough employees together again to vote a Nurses union in. Our hospital is in such a mess that we need this union to be voted in. We have lost so many wonderful nurses because of nurse to patient ratios. There is going to be a meeting held by the UFCW for a question answer session, anyone have any suggestions for questions? I really want to go in to the meeting with the most amount of information as possible. I have been trying to research other unions aswell to compare. CHANGE IS GOOD!!!! Thanks again for all of your responses.

Thanks for the input. I will look into the links that were sent. I just hope that if the union is voted in they don't do anything crazy. Most of the nurses I work with don't care about a raise, we just want a safer work environment (don't get me wrong, money is always nice but saving our license is way more important). Thanks again

I work at a large hospital in Florida and the Union has shown up at our front door.... can't say I am against it due to the fact that I always have 3 very sick patients every time I walk in the door (I should add that I work on the MICU floor with no aids). Everyone at our hospital is stretched so thin that we have now developed a "survive the shift" mentality most days, which I hate. My main question is, has anyone heard about the UFCW? as a Florida resident I am not very familiar with the in and out's of the union. Any info about this particular union or the good, bad, and ugly about any union would be helpful. Needless to say administration is freaking out and is on some serious damage control and telling us that the union is horrible and will be the demise of the hospital. please help!!