Veep candidate caved at the expense of patients and nurses

heron, ASN, RN · Aug 12

That's quite the trial balloon, there. Swiftboating didn't work. Radical lefty didn't work. Let's throw something about healthcare against the wall and see if that sticks.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 12

Money talks. I guess in this case being pro-business investment is a radical leftist idea now?

Year after year radical lefties approach the state here in Florida with safe staffing requests that fall on deaf ears. This January they met with dozens of state congresspersons. Crickets.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 12

heron said:

That's quite the trial balloon, there. Swiftboating didn't work. Radical lefty didn't work. Let's throw something about healthcare against the wall and see if that sticks.

It won't. As Massachusetts proved when safe staffing went for a vote the public doesn't care about us or patient safety (until it happens to them). Heck they don't even care if the neighbor has healthcare or not, as long as they don't have to pay for it.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 12

FYI the bill PASSED.

The bills author Senator Erin Murphy -D is a Registered Nurse, former head of MN nurses union spent months negotiating and pushing back against hospital lobbyists. While it did not get bedside staffing ratios this time, got important nurse violence prevention language into law, including

evaluations of staffing patterns that are insufficient to address risks of violence as well as any reports of discrimination or abuse that arise from security protocols
required to implement a procedure that allows for any hospital worker to request for more staff when there are concerns about risk of violence and mandates that hospitals maintain data for Health Commission to review.

Minnesota's the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, renamed the Nurse and Patient Safety Act, lost its controversial Mayo exemption and cemented workplace protections for nurses.

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/lawmakers-nurses-announce-agreement-in-proposed-nurse-staffing-bill/89-84704397-4337-4175-8b3a-3328f2d241e1

Minnesota Nurses Association: Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023

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Though the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act did not pass due to the Mayo exemption poison pill, MNA was able to push through a few significant provisions from the bill. This bill includes comprehensive workplace violence prevention measures, student loan debt forgiveness for registered nurses and nursing teaching faculty, a study on why nurses are leaving the bedside, and scholarship coverage for childcare for individuals completing registered nurse degree programs.

As with most US LEGISLATION. bill introduced in House chamber, debated, moves to Senate -debated and if majority agrees passes. Most take several legislative sessions to be drafted, revised several times, rewritten to get majority vote + passage before a Governor can sign it or veto.

MN nurses got the issue brought before the public, baby steps re staffing info, and study why nurses leaving bedside -- all needed for next round of nurse staffing legislation.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 12

NRSKarenRN said:

FYI the bill PASSED.

The bills author Senator Liz Boldon -D is a Registered Nurse, former head of MNA nurses union

Minnesota's the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, renamed the Nurse and Patient Safety Act, lost its controversial Mayo exemption and cemented workplace protections for nurses.

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/lawmakers-nurses-announce-agreement-in-proposed-nurse-staffing-bill/89-84704397-4337-4175-8b3a-3328f2d241e1

Awesome. But the point being that Walz apparently approved the controversial exemptions at first.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 12

Walz Drew Fire From Minn Nurses Association for Siding With Mayo Clinic on Staffing Ratio Bill

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the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, were quick to endorse him this morning.

OR Manager: Corporate influence concerns arise amid scrutiny of VP nominee's health record

Some of the legislation Gov. Walz signed at end of 2023 MN legislative session:

May 26, 2023

Walz signs nurse safety, hospital merger bills, 7 others

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Friday, Gov. Tim Walz signed nine more bills, including ones covering nurse safety and hospital merger requirements.

It comes a day after the governor signed the paid family and medical leave bill and vetoed rideshare driver protection legislation.

"Nurse and Patient Safety Act" — Changed from the "Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act" at the 11th hour, the bill doesn't give nurses more say in staffing levels but does provide more workplace safety requirements and expands the loan forgiveness program to include hospital nurses.

Hospital mergers requirements — Created in response to the proposed Fairview-Sanford merger, the bill lays out more requirements for hospital mergers, allows the attorney general to seek relief for violations and prevents University of Minnesota health care facilities from being controlled by an out-of-state entity unless it's in the public interest.

Deepfake bill — This bill criminalizes anyone who non-consensually shares deepfake (digitally created or altered pictures or videos) sexual images of others or deepfakes designed to hurt a political candidate or election.

Equal Rights Amendment resolution — While mostly symbolic, this resolution encourages Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, which would be the 28th Amendment and codify protections against discrimination based on sex....

The Paid Family and Medical Leave bill gives Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks of paid time off for a serious medical condition or pregnancy, or to care for a family member. Individuals can claim a maximum of 20 weeks of paid leave in a single year.

These bills support issues I care about ( along with many AN posters writings) so if part of DNC platform and our candidates, glad VP Walz is candidate.

National Nurses United Statement on Harris/Walz 2024

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National Nurses United (NNU), the nation's largest union of registered nurses, with nearly 225,000 members nationwide, today announced its support for Kamala Harris' decision to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

We have long supported Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been a powerful advocate in the fight to defend and restore reproductive health rights and lowering prescription drug prices, including lower insulin costs. Together, the Harris/Walz record is in stark contrast to the rightwing threats and anti-worker agenda of Donald Trump. We look forward to ensuring that Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz prevail in the November 2024 election.

toomuchbaloney · Aug 12

Couldn't be Vance, he has a shocking lack of experience in governing.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 12

NRSKarenRN said:

The Paid Family and Medical Leave bill gives Minnesota workers up to 12 weeks of paid time off for a serious medical condition or pregnancy, or to care for a family member. Individuals can claim a maximum of 20 weeks of paid leave in a single year.

I would love that as my parents might need me very soon.

That's the kind of stuff that drives businesses to relocate here in Florida where we are supposed to be thankful that we have a job at all.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Aug 12

Federal Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) applies to business with greater than 50 employees -- applicable if your parents need care

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FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. These employers must provide an eligible employee with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for any of the following reasons:

For the birth and care of the newborn child of an employee;

For placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care;

To care for an immediate family member (I.e., spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or

To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.

Employees are eligible for leave if they have worked for their employer at least 12 months, at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location where the company employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Whether an employee has worked the minimum 1,250 hours of service is determined according to FLSA principles for determining compensable hours or work.

It's what I used to care for my father when on Hospice ( only needed 2 weeks) while I used 12wks caring for my husband 2 yrs later prior taking retirement.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Aug 13

Federal FMLA is unpaid.