Fairshare

I suspect Spacenurse is a bit biased. Glad everyone can have an opinion. Please note every site offered is a CNA site. CNA is neither a wholly good or bad organization. It has its good points as well as its flaws. With respect to agency fees, I have found CNA to be less than honest. Joining is in option for UC nurses. Try it, you may like it.

Sorry for the delay, I was away at a conference. There are no downsides for me not being a member of CNA. I choose not be a member because I believe CNA is too political and expresses positions on issues not involved with RNs or healthcare. I still benefit from the union representation in the system. I am not against agency fees but believe the amount far exceeds a reasonable amount for the non-political activities of CNA.

The salary scales for RNs are available on-line at http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/Salary/. Look for NX or CNA then Clinical Nurse II. The comments on the area are very accurate.

University of Washington used to offer a cassette based course which was three units. It has been a few years so I don't know if it is still available.

California doesn't distinguish between NP specialties. I don't know about the certification as an FA.

Have you looked at Master Entry Prepared Nurse programs? UCSF has several but it takes about 4 years to complete.

There are four hospital systems in Sacramento. Check them all out, Kaiser, Mercy, Sutter and UCDavis. Each system is supportive of new grads.

I checked with a student and the SutterHealth/Sac City is up and running. The program is separate but share some faculty. All comments were positive.

Maybe someone remembers the details. I believe the Sutther health system gave funding to Sacramento City College to expand the nursing program. I don't know if the program has actually expanded yet.

You answer your first question in your last paragraph. Politics. While CNA has been a strong advocate for RNs in California I don't happen to agree with much of its politics. The only way to opt out of paying for the politics is not to be a member.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I don't think you have to join a union even in a unionized hospital. You will still have to pay part dues (with rare exception) but I don't think you can be compelled to belong to a union. I work in the public sector so my understanding may be skewed by my setting.

The non-member dues are supposed to only pay for the costs of union representation for UC RNs and not for other units or political activity. The information provided is suposed to explain this. To avoid giving me more detail, CNA has refunded all the fees paid by me. I don't think this solves the problem for anyone else who may think the fee is excessive.

For a variety of reasons I choose not to be a member of CNA. I do not object to paying the "agency fee" but have felt the information sent by CNA justifying the fee to be lacking. Are there any UC Non-member RNs who agree?