Why is CA Nurse's Association supporting Nikki Diaz?

PetiteOpRN · Dec 4, 2010

It is a political organization.

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 4, 2010

I don't understand the question. Who is Nikki Diaz?

nicurn001 · Dec 4, 2010

Nikki Diaz is an illegal immigrant who was employed by Meg Whitman , The CNA and some nurses felt her policies would adversly effect nurses , so theybrought to light the hypocrisy of campaigning against illegal immigration , whilst having employed one ( yes I know some will argue MW was unaware of ND's status , but it would have been better for MW to shine a light upon her problem employee , rather than hide it , that way her campaign would have led the story and spun it as they wished ).

The CNA does take political stands as do the Hospital Associations and ANA , all trying to influence legislation for those who they represent , its primary purpose is to represent its members in all aspects that effect its members .

lrobinson5 · Dec 4, 2010

Well, I don't think the nurses association is non-partisan, so they obviously will do whatever they feel will be in their best interest. I know they strongly backed Jerry Brown and ran ads against Meg Whitman, so it wouldn't surprise me if they helped break the story.

GoodNP · Dec 5, 2010

Wow, I wonder if all of the members share the same political views? It's my impression that the unions kind of run the show in CA for nurses, you almost have to be a member to get a decent job, right? Kind of sucks to have your earnings go to a cause you may or may not support, especially what amounts to a smear campaign. I'm not defending Meg Whitman, but Gloria Allred and Jerry Brown couldn't have cared less about that girl, they just used her as a pawn to bring down MW.

nicurn001 · Dec 5, 2010

Probably agree with you re . the use of Nikki Diaz , but unfortunately that is the level politics is practiced by ALL nowadays .

I am emplyed in healthcare , yet I have NO influence in what legilative efforts the Hospital Associations support ( they still work against the ratio laws here in CA ) , but at least as a member of CNA I have a path to influence the political stances of my Union . At present the CNA supports causes that , they believe are beneficial to their members , whichever party espoused policies supportive of labor it would be in the Unions best interest to support them . At present it would be hard to argue that the Republicans agenda is supportive of Labor , therefore the Unions ( CNA included ) tend to be supportive of the Democratic Party .

GoodNP · Dec 5, 2010

I get it. Political party aside, I was shocked and a bit disappointed to learn that an organization that people associate with my profession was financing this campaign ploy. Better to run ads or engage in campaigning that directly relate to health care policy.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2010

Wow, I wonder if all of the members share the same political views? It's my impression that the unions kind of run the show in CA for nurses, you almost have to be a member to get a decent job, right? Kind of sucks to have your earnings go to a cause you may or may not support, especially what amounts to a smear campaign. I'm not defending Meg Whitman, but Gloria Allred and Jerry Brown couldn't have cared less about that girl, they just used her as a pawn to bring down MW.

Just a few facts to clarify the situation a bit. Ms Diaz - not a "girl" but a very adult woman capable of making her own decisions - felt she had been badly treated by her employer and was anxious for the facts about that to get out. What an interview with her in the SF Chronicle indicated is that she knew someone who knew a CNA staff person, was very aware that CNA was opposed to Whitman for reasons other responders have mentioned. The mutual friend apparently put them in touch and then CNA facilitated - but did not pay for - putting her in touch with Allred and an immigration attorney who took it from there. There have been comments here and there to the effect that she was a pawn or being used - which seems to imply an underlying sexist/racist assumption that a Latina woman could not be acting on her own in her own interest. Allred is obviously a publicity hound who had her own agenda, which happened to match up with Ms Diaz agenda and the CNA's. The difference between a smear campaign and "getting the facts out" in politics pretty much depends on whether it's being done to someone you support or oppose - sort of like the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter.

jbluehorseh · Dec 7, 2010

just remember nurses do not work in a political vacuum. the health care industry is looking to make a bigger profits and they will align themselves with the candidates or political parties that will help them achieve that goal most, so organizations like cna just do not represent nurses in a hospital environment they do this on a state level too. that is why we have patients ratios and better pay out here in california.

Chico David, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2010

just remember nurses do not work in a political vacuum. the health care industry is looking to make a bigger profits and they will align themselves with the candidates or political parties that will help them achieve that goal most, so organizations like cna just do not represent nurses in a hospital environment they do this on a state level too. that is why we have patients ratios and better pay out here in california.

well said. i'd put it even more strongly than not working in a political vacuum. every now and then a member at my hospital says that our union 'shouldn't be involved in politics'. it's my belief that what they actually mean is that they disagree with our political choices, but i take them at face value and answer like this: from the moment you decide to become a nurse, virtually everything about your career and practice is affected by the political process - either by elected officials or their appointees. for a partial list: how many places are available in nursing school, what it costs to attend, what qualifications your teachers have, how much they get paid, what the curriculum includes, what the graduation requirements are, what's on the licensing exam, what it costs to get your license, what is within your scope of practice, whether the building you work in is safe in a fire/earthquake/hurricane, who else can do parts of your job, how many patients you have to care for, whether your patients have health coverage or not and what it covers, whether you have the right to join a union or not, what happens if you are accused of misconduct.

all of that and many more are affected by politics. if nurses, and organizations that represent nurses don't involve themselves in politics, all those things get decided without our input. for an organization that represents nurses not to be political would be malpractice.

GoodNP · Dec 8, 2010

Thanks to all for the interesting and thought-provoking responses.