What Nurses Really Want

lindarn · Jul 2, 2015

Why on earth shouldn't a nurses union advocate for other than nursing issues? What do you think that State Hospital Associations do with their dues money? They use it to fight nurses on issues like staffing ratios, etc. They use their power to push issues that help the Hospital Associations keep nurses powerless, improve the power of the hospitals, nursing homes.

All, if not most, issues that would benefit hospitals, but none of which would benefit nurses.

ALL companies, in ALL areas, have lobbyists that pressure out elected officials, to vote to benefit THEM. That is the name of the game.

If you don't believe that, you are in la la land. THAT is the way the world works.

By playing, the, "nice little girl", who doesn't ask for anything, remaining, "martyr marys", who sacrifice their career, sometimes their licenses, to keep the PTB happy. Regardless of the outcome.

YES we have a duty to advocate for our patients, but we cannot due this, by not being unionized, and speaking with a unified voice.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN (ret)

Somewhere in the PACNW

SC_RNDude · Jul 2, 2015

Why on earth shouldn't a nurses union advocate for other than nursing issues? What do you think that State Hospital Associations do with their dues money? They use it to fight nurses on issues like staffing ratios, etc. They use their power to push issues that help the Hospital Associations keep nurses powerless, improve the power of the hospitals, nursing homes.

You asked and then answered your own question.

I'm sure hospital associations and hospitals would love it if nurse unions spent more of their time and $$$ working on things like eliminating fossil fuels.

allnurses Guide · Jul 2, 2015

Who else has achieved ratios?

AB 394 was the enabling legislation for these regulations:

https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I8612C410941F11E29091E6B951DDF6CE?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=%28sc.Default%29

AB 394 - It's the LAW in California

Who else has national and state ratio bills introduced?

National Campaign for Safe RN-to-Patient Staffing Ratios | National Nurses United

Who else has ratios in their union contracts? (Not every contract. It depends on the employer and the activism of the nurses. Some nurses outside California have contractual ratios they have to protect every time their contracr expires.

101 standards | National Nurses United

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkvLewSgtw

Graduatenurse14 · Jul 5, 2015

We have RN:Pt ratios in our contract but it gets violated, and the union doesn't care. My union is a JOKE! SEIU Healthcare is for McDonald's workers not Nurses contrary to what anyone says.

I don't know if it's just my hospital or they are weak everywhere. I think that I am going to start a new thread and ask!

lindarn · Jul 6, 2015

The Union is YOU!

If you are asked to take more patients that the ratios allow, why are YOU letting them get away with it?

Just say, "NO". You have a union contract to support you. Why are you blaming SEIU?

You can always vote out SEIU, and vote in NNOC.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN(ret)

allnurses Guide · Jul 6, 2015

The Union is YOU!
If you are asked to take more patients that the ratios allow, why are YOU letting them get away with it?
Just say, "NO". You have a union contract to support you. Why are you blaming SEIU?
You can always vote out SEIU, and vote in NNOC.
JMHO and my NY $0.02
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN(ret)

One nurse alone can't enforce the contract. Most of the nurses working together can.

It is not easy when working for criminal ratio violators.

The ratio regulations:

https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I8612C410941F11E29091E6B951DDF6CE?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=%28sc.Default%29

Fill out an ADO or disclaimer each and every time your are assigned too many patients.

Give one copy to your manager or supervisor and keep one for yourself.

(If you have no union tell a supervisor and keep a diary every shift. If staffing is OK put that down. If unsafe tell a manager or supervisor why staffing is unsafe and directly quote the conversation.)

In the event of an adverse affect on patient care that written record is proof of the mitigating circumstance of insufficient staff and your proof that you notified someone with the authority to obtain more staff.

Truly it holds up in disciplinary meetings, arbitration, and court.

Once a nurse was the only licensed person in ICU with six patients. She filled out an ADO and gave a copy to the supervisor. The direct quote was, "Do the best you can."

Two patients coded and one died. She was not disciplined.

Four years later she was called to a deposition regarding a lawsuit by the family of the patient who died. She brought her copy of the ADO.

She was no longer a defendant, just a witness.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2015

One nurse alone can't enforce the contract. Most of the nurses working together can.
It is not easy when working for criminal ratio violators.
The ratio regulations:
https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I8612C410941F11E29091E6B951DDF6CE?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=%28sc.Default%29
Fill out an ADO or disclaimer each and every time your are assigned too many patients.
Give one copy to your manager or supervisor and keep one for yourself.
(If you have no union tell a supervisor and keep a diary every shift. If staffing is OK put that down. If unsafe tell a manager or supervisor why staffing is unsafe and directly quote the conversation.)
In the event of an adverse affect on patient care that written record is proof of the mitigating circumstance of insufficient staff and your proof that you notified someone with the authority to obtain more staff.
Truly it holds up in disciplinary meetings, arbitration, and court.
Once a nurse was the only licensed person in ICU with six patients. She filled out an ADO and gave a copy to the supervisor. The direct quote was, "Do the best you can."
Two patients coded and one died. She was not disciplined.
Four years later she was called to a deposition regarding a lawsuit by the family of the patient who died. She brought her copy of the ADO.
She was no longer a defendant, just a witness.

This is why all nurses not only need to CYA but to have malpractice insurance. Your employer is not your best friend, and your employer will put you in situations you should NEVER be placed in. I am not shocked to hear that "do your best" was the best that employer could come up with. Anything to save a few $$$$.. Too bad in the end it cost someone their life and I'm sure ended up costing that employer quite a bit financially. It's sickening.

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2015

Yes. I'll take pens too, though. And unit managers that can be found easily when they're needed.

ENquisitive · Jul 9, 2015

herring_rn, thanks for posting this and the links!

Full disclosures: I'm not a nurse (engineer instead), and I'm new to AN.

NNU has some fantastic info on this issue, which I've been reading. I also clicked through to join the Patient Advocacy Coalition and to "Take Action" on the Senate and House bills, but the letters to the representatives explicitly say "As a registered nurse...", which I am not.

So, a few questions:

1) Do you have links to pre-written letters for non-RNs to join in the cause?

2) Is the NNU open to non-RNs joining the Patient Advocacy Coalition? (I'm assuming so, given the option to select "Not a healthcare worker", but figured I'd check your thoughts on this)

3) What else can be done by the public to help raise this issue as a concern and to support nursing organizations in their fight to improve the situation?

allnurses Guide · Jul 9, 2015

herring_rn, thanks for posting this and the links!
Full disclosures: I'm not a nurse (engineer instead), and I'm new to AN.
NNU has some fantastic info on this issue, which I've been reading. I also clicked through to join the Patient Advocacy Coalition and to "Take Action" on the Senate and House bills, but the letters to the representatives explicitly say "As a registered nurse...", which I am not.
So, a few questions:
1) Do you have links to pre-written letters for non-RNs to join in the cause?
2) Is the NNU open to non-RNs joining the Patient Advocacy Coalition? (I'm assuming so, given the option to select "Not a healthcare worker", but figured I'd check your thoughts on this)
3) What else can be done by the public to help raise this issue as a concern and to support nursing organizations in their fight to improve the situation?

THANK YOU!

We did it in California with the help of thousands of union and non union nurses and other active voters.

I think Congress may be ready to discuss this soon. If we don't give up we can achieve safe staffing laws for all acute care hospitals.

I'm trying to coordinate with some cousins to be in Oklahoma when their member of congress holds a public meeting this summer. A group of nurses, patients, and potential patients will attend and start the conversation.

I'll bring copies of the studies from this post (From the NNU web site): https://allnurses.com/nursing-activism-healthcare/nurses-as-costs-979240.html#post8402326

I don't have sample letters. In California from 1993 to 1999 we used flyers with the information. I took stamped envelopes and paper to hospital cafeterias to help busy people write when they could.

One thing to people you know could be discussing safe staffing on your favorite social media. (I don't do Facebook, Twitter or the others so I emailed my cousins and other friends and family.)

I think you could call or email so you can meet other people who are working on safe staffing and patient advocacy.

Try calling if there is an office near you:

Contact information: Who We Are | National Nurses United

OR emailing

[email protected]

SC_RNDude · Jul 9, 2015

Any data of the effects of California's law?

Everywhere I've worked (in a non-union state) the ratios are the same or better the California's. I'm not impressed by California's law.

If the law was instituted here, my fear would be I would always of the max allowed, acuity may or may not be considered, and they would make up for more nurses by having less CNA's working.

ENquisitive · Jul 10, 2015

Thanks herring_rn!

SC_RNDude - I hear your concern, but isn't that the point of including the part in the California law that requires a patient classification system to assess whether the minimum ratio isn't good enough during a particular shift? My understanding is that the patient classification systems in California are supposed to be reviewed... annually, if I remember correctly. IS that being done? Or, like any oversight process, is that something that sounds great on paper but doesn't have the staff or funding to implement effectively?

Granted, cutting other support staff like CNAs would be a likely response... I'm not sure how best to prevent that from happening.