unionize now

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Oct 23, 2008

I agree.

I also do know a couple of nurses who have been trying to get unionization....but so far no luck, or maybe no support??

eatcake · Oct 27, 2008

PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK! You dont even have to join a union in this state if you dont want to. The "Right to work" law or whatever discourages that.

Then, you would have to educate everyone what a union can do for them, because they seem to think its some yankee organazation that justs takes your money. They dont even Get IT HOW CRAPPY NURSING IS HERE, But the hospitals and managers have them so hoodwinked its like "Thats the way it is"

Lets see we also get the "My Husband says no, so I could never join a union".

Is their husband the one running their ass off, just doing so you can get thru the shift. And critical thinking skills whats that? If its on the order do it, if the dr says so do it, cause THATS THE WAY IT IS.

The Nurses in this state have a long way to go. They need to learn we are the most valuable asset the hospitals have, and worth the respect we deserve. I say "OH I must of been lucky to have worked in my old hospital", but it was not luck, it was the way nursing should be, and with the best outcomes for the pts. And yes, I wish i could go back, but that would mean a divorce after 23 years, and after all these years I have started to think about it. Forgive the spelling.

NeysaGirl1 · Nov 1, 2008

okay I get you're frustrated. . . me too. . I completely agree with you. I love oklahoma, but people are apathetic, nurses, in particular, are apathetic. I don't think they realize how crappy nurses are treated here either. Not only pay, but the cheesey way hospitals are treating us. There has to be a way to change it. . .there has to be!

NeysaGirl1 · Nov 1, 2008

who are these nurses. . . I will join their effort. . tell me what to do

lindarn · Nov 7, 2008

okay I get you're frustrated. . . me too. . I completely agree with you. I love oklahoma, but people are apathetic, nurses, in particular, are apathetic. I don't think they realize how crappy nurses are treated here either. Not only pay, but the cheesey way hospitals are treating us. There has to be a way to change it. . .there has to be!

Have you called the NNOC, from the California State Nurses Association? They are organizing in Texas, Florida, Nevada, all very anti union states. They have indeed won elections in these states, and I believe that a Catholic Hospital in Nevada won California staffing ratios with their first contract. Look in to it. I feel your pain!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

wiseintulsa · Nov 16, 2008

You would be better off to stay away from the word union. :angryfire Unions had a legitimate purpose in the past. The word union is now synonomous with "make me a lazy individual that complains about everything, and will not do something I have to do until someone else does what they have to do because it's not in our agreement." Unions have helped to destroy our nation. Look at the UAW and the automotive industry! I've seen too many nurses spending their shifts on their rear ends going through the circulars of the weekend newspapers. All I'm saying is that there was a time and place for unions and it's not now. There is a chain of command and that should be utilized. The op-ed section of the local newspaper or the local news media is a viable means of expressing your discrepancies. From my experience, under-staffing is one of the biggest issues, and this can lead to compromising patient safety. Also, by the nature of the industry if you aren't happy where you're at you can easily go somewhere else. :twocents:

lindarn · Nov 16, 2008

You would be better off to stay away from the word union. :angryfire Unions had a legitimate purpose in the past. The word union is now synonomous with "make me a lazy individual that complains about everything, and will not do something I have to do until someone else does what they have to do because it's not in our agreement." Unions have helped to destroy our nation. Look at the UAW and the automotive industry! I've seen too many nurses spending their shifts on their rear ends going through the circulars of the weekend newspapers. All I'm saying is that there was a time and place for unions and it's not now. There is a chain of command and that should be utilized. The op-ed section of the local newspaper or the local news media is a viable means of expressing your discrepancies. From my experience, under-staffing is one of the biggest issues, and this can lead to compromising patient safety. Also, by the nature of the industry if you aren't happy where you're at you can easily go somewhere else.

Is it any surprise that states like Oklahoma, and the entire south and southeast, have some of the lowest pay, worst benefits, and NO workplace protections (Group One!) than the entire country?

Unions VERY definately have a place in todays workplace. As union membership has diminshed, pay, benefits, workplace protection, and outsourcing have become the norm.

I am sorry that some people generalize union members in the negative. Non unionized nurses and health care personnel give poor care because they have impossible workloads, miminum help, and no voice to make necessary changes.

You cannot be a good nurse if your hands are tied to refuse unsafe working conditions. You cannot be a good nurse if you have 15 patients under your care. You cannot provide, safe, effective nursing care if you have no supplies, too many patients under you watch, and are doing the work of three other disciplines.

In a nut shell, unions are needed now, more than ever. You cannot fight powerful, multinational corporations, or the Hospitaland Medical Associations, by your self. You cannot effect needed change by yourself. Sure, you can go elsewhere, but where? Most nurses are not unionized, and have no workplace protection. And "going some place else", is not an option for individuals who have spouses who have jobs that have to be acommodated.

The solution is for nurses to unionize, en masse, and have the protection to perform their work not they are supposed to. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

wiseintulsa · Nov 16, 2008

I hope this doesn't offend too many people. :twocents: This is aimed to those that feel there is a need for a nurse's union in Oklahoma and the southeast. For those that don't live in the south or southeast, you may not realize the cost of living here is not as high as it is in most of America. Personally, it sounds like you are insinuating that Oklahoman's and those in the Southeast are not in tune with the rest of the United States. We are in the business of helping people in need! What happens when the union comes to an impasse, do we go on strike? We aren't building cars! We have peoples lives at stake. Are you ready to go on strike when the Patient Care Technician's, that are over-worked, for 1/4 of the wage of an RN, and more than equally understaffed cannot fullfill the needs of the patients and we are asked to do their job. If you aren't ready to step up maybe you should enter a new career field. Have you ever heard of Florence Nightingale? Are you destitute? What were you looking for when you entered the career field. Maybe you have been working too much and have lost track of your original desire to help people. If you are over-worked, work less hours. I suggest that you use your resources available to improve your working conditions, and if that doesn't work go somewhere else or enter a new career field. By the way, should we bail out the automotive industry (UAW)?

RNinOK · Nov 18, 2008

this is my first post. I have lived and worked in Oklahoma all my life minus two years... I have only been a nurse since 2005 but have recently started traveling as a nurse and I must say while I love Oklahoma as my home state, it is definetly the most ass backward system of healthcare I have ever seen or worked in. The worst thing this state ever did was vote for the stupid right to work law. If any state needs a nursing union it's Oklahoma. I have never seen more apathetic, scared, overworked, underpaid, underappreciated nurses as those in our state. I have worked in most of the major hospitals in Tulsa and surrounding communities either as perm staff or agency. I don't know when it became safe nursing practice for an RN to staff a whole med/surg floor (15 pts) with one LPN, no tech, or unit clerk, do all admits, push IV meds and take a team of 7 pts. Oklahoma nurses need to wake up and smell the coffee, if you want change, you have to make it yourself. I know when Hillcrest tried to Unionize they used the you'll get fired line, but really do you think they can afford to fire every nurse in the hospital who wants to unionize. Ratios are a good thing people, it's called safe nursing practice you can lose your license for not following it, not to mention it's great for our backs, our insurance, and wages. Why should any manager make the big bucks sitting behind a desk and get labor bonuses for cutting staff when we are doing all the work nursing and non nursing, why not cut back on the political administration jobs, pay better wages, use less agency and travelers, upgrade equipment, offer more than a 500 buck a semester tution reimbursement or a 5000 sign on bonus that is really worth 2400 after taxes and take care of the nurses that will ultimately be taking care of you. Oklahoma is light years away in their mentatilty of what nursing is all about as well as unions. Having a Union would be hard for most Oklahomans to swallow, especially our nurses, since we have a don't make waves attitude, but we really should think about banning together for once, a Union isn't just about money folks, it's about the patients to and ultimately that's why we are nurses! :nurse:

Tippy-ta-ta · Nov 28, 2008

Well said RNinOK

travelrn08 · Oct 9, 2010

So how do you go about unionizing a hospital in Okla? Is there a union for nurses in Okla, and if so how do you contact them??