100 Years! 1st NURSES union in the US too! Check out Centennial Celebration

mdfog10 · Aug 14, 2003

Anyone here going? I am! Looking forward to it. :D

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2003

Not Me, It may interfere with my golf

glascow · Aug 14, 2003

I would love to go! I may have a chance, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

:specs:

pickledpepperRN · Aug 28, 2003

http://www.calnurses.org/cna/press/

Labor Group Marks 100th Anniversary

California's Largest RN Organization Ranks High on List of Most Powerful in Healthcare

On the eve of Labor Day and as it prepares for a grand celebration of its 100th year, the California Nurses Association (CNA) gained new national recognition for its role in the healthcare industry, in particular its role in sponsoring the nation's first state law mandating minimum nurse-to-patient hospital staffing ratios.

In this year's polling by Modern Healthcare magazine for the 100 "most influential people in healthcare," CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro came in at number 60 - up from number 81 in 2002. In releasing the listing, the magazine's editors observed:

"In California, the push for landmark nurse-to-patient ratios -- now scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2004 --was led by the powerful and aggressive California Nurses Association, which represents about 55,000 nurses after breaking away from the more conservative ANA in 1993 in what is still described as a 'revolution' pitting staff nurses against administrators. Few individuals in the nursing community are more vocal than Rose Ann DeMoro, the CNA's executive director, who placed No. 60 on the list, a 21-slot improvement over last year."

"It's not about individual power; it's about collective power," DeMoro told Modern Healthcare. "We've given voice to the largest group of people in the healthcare industry. That's why we're able to effectuate change."

The editors also noted that nursing organizations, "have evolved into one of the most potent coalitions in healthcare....reflecting "the crucial roles nurses play in two of today's dominant themes in healthcare: the push for patient safety and the agonizing challenges of nursing shortages."

CNA to celebrate 100th anniversary September 14-16

On September 14, CNA will open a two-day gala celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the group, which is the largest and fastest growing organization of Registered Nurses in the nation. The observance which is to be held in conjunction with the CNA Biennial House of Delegates and Convention will feature appearance by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, author Barbara Ehrenreich and singer-songwriter Holly Near and others.

CNA Centennial Celebration

When: September 14-16

Where: Oakland Marriot

1001 Broadway

Oakland, Ca.

Highlights of the centennial include:

* Testimony by RNs on how nursing and health care have changed over the past century

* A large rally for health care reform as RNs emphasize the importance of universal health care in upcoming state and national elections

* Guest appearances by major candidates

* Keynote addresses by author Barbara Ehrenreich and consumer activist Ralph Nader

* Presentations by commentator Jim Hightower, authors Frances Fox-Piven and Suzanne Gordon, and other guest speakers

* Analysis of the latest trends and solutions for improving quality patient care and reducing the nursing shortage

Founded in 1903, CNA pioneered and sponsored many major developments in nursing and health care history, including:

* The first collective bargaining contracts for RNs in the nation

* The first laws to require safe RN staffing ratios for patients

* Laws to regulate and license nursing practice

* Major proposals for comprehensive health care reform and other prominent innovations in public health policy

CNA currently represents 55,000 RNs in 150 facilities in California, and has affiliate organizations in Arizona and Missouri.

Over 1,000 RNs from around the world are expected to join the festivities.

More background on the Centennial event is available on the CNA website, http://www.calnurse.org.

For the list of 100 Most Powerful: http://www.modernhealthcare.com/

music · Sep 9, 2003

http://www.onevoice-ourvoice.com

Nurses thinking and speaking for themselves.

Everyone doesn't want to belong to the CNA.

WHY PAY DUES TO DO SOMETHING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF?

With all due respect to my pro-union colleagues, it's just good to know that everyone doesn't think the same. We all need to know about and respect each other's views while working together for better patient care. And always acting in a professional manner to encourage respect and cooperation

pickledpepperRN · Sep 10, 2003

Originally posted by music
http://www.onevoice-ourvoice.com

We all need to know about and respect each other's views while working together for better patient care. And always acting in a professional manner to encourage respect and cooperation

Amen to that!

music · Sep 13, 2003

Thanks spacenurse....We're all in this together! It all comes down to the fact that we need each other .....No matter what :)

pickledpepperRN · Sep 21, 2003

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/13/BU256660.DTL&type=business

Nurses union celebrates 100 years

Nurses celebrate 100 years

Union plans three days of activities

Chronicle Staff Report

Saturday, September 13, 2003

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/13/BU256660.DTL&type=business

The California Nurses Association, the largest independent union of registered nurses in the United States, will observe its centennial with events Sunday through Tuesday at the Oakland Marriott.

The CNA is supporting Gov. Gray Davis in his struggle against a recall vote on Oct. 7, and said Friday he will address the association Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Davis signed CNA-sponsored legislation that makes California the first state to require hospitals to maintain minimum RN-to-patient staffing ratios. Hospitals must meet the standard beginning Jan. 1.

At least one candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, will address the group Monday morning, along with Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, state Senate leader John Burton, D-San Francisco, consumer advocate Ralph Nader and California Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

The association also plans a rally Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Oakland Federal Building, where members will discuss a proposal for universal health care.

In a statement about the centennial, Kay McVay, president of the CNA, noted that at one time nurses had to stand up whenever a doctor entered the room, but they are now influential in shaping health care policy.

"CNA has sponsored or promoted virtually every major legislative and regulatory reform that has enhanced health and safety for Californians -- from assuring professional licensing standards for RNs to the nation's first RN staffing ratio law, to major protections against managed care abuses," she said.

sokalirn · Sep 24, 2003

I went to the CNA celebration and had a great time. Although I do not work currently for a CNA represented hospital...I believe in the mission and the integrity of this union. I understand that not all nurses are pro union...but it's obvious that because of the work and struggles of early unions and collective bargaining...nursing is a much more respected career today. Especially when you work for a large for profit corporation like Tenet (who I currently work for) you'll want to unite with other nurses to actually have a voice in our patient care needs and security as a RN. CNA is truly a union for RN's as opossed to the rival union SEIU who is a threat to nursing scope of practice.

pickledpepperRN · Sep 25, 2003

Originally posted by sokalirn
I went to the CNA celebration and had a great time. Although I do not work currently for a CNA represented hospital...I believe in the mission and the integrity of this union. I understand that not all nurses are pro union...but it's obvious that because of the work and struggles of early unions and collective bargaining...nursing is a much more respected career today. Especially when you work for a large for profit corporation like Tenet (who I currently work for) you'll want to unite with other nurses to actually have a voice in our patient care needs and security as a RN. CNA is truly a union for RN's as opossed to the rival union SEIU who is a threat to nursing scope of practice.

So glad you enjoyed yourself and probably learned a lot too.

Wonder if you met one of these nurses?

http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127%257E2896%257E1653176,00.html

Nurses meet peers from across the state

By Sara Watson Arthurs The Times-Standard

Wednesday, September 24, 2003 -

EUREKA -- Local nurses met others from around California, and outside it, at the centennial celebration of the California Nurses Association.

The association, the union that St. Joseph Hospital nurses in Eureka joined last year, held the event in Oakland last week.

St. Joseph Nurse Susan Johnson said between 1,500 and 2,000 nurses attended, most from California but a few from other states. Eight St. Joseph nurses attended.

The event included discussion of the history of nursing over the last century, as well as information on new nurse staffing ratios required by an association-sponsored law that takes effect Jan. 1.

Johnson said it was a chance to meet other nurses and health-care advocates from around the state.

"It was an extremely empowering experience," she said.

On the political end, nurses from St. Joseph met with nurses from St. Joseph Health System hospitals elsewhere in the state. Eureka's nurses have been negotiating their first contract with the hospital for the last year, a process that has included a great deal of friction.

Speakers at the event included consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader, Gov. Gray Davis and author Barbara Ehrenreich.

Far from being just a rally, though, Johnson said the centennial was a chance for further education, including continuing education courses on nursing issues.

Nurses from each representative hospital discussed their visions for the next 100 years in health care, she said.

Lynnette Freitas, also a St. Joseph nurse, said much of the discussion focused on the history of the nurses' union, although the gathering included non-union nurses interested in meeting others of their profession.

"It just felt very inspiring," she said. "We live in such a small community, you sometimes feel a little isolated."

She said the nurses discussed health-care challenges, such as how to care for the large population of people with no insurance or access to health care.

"It's a big problem," she said. "People go without health care until they're in desperate straits."

A nurse from Canada spoke about that country's universal health-care system, she said.

Liz Jacobs, an Oakland-based association representative, wrote in an e-mail that the event was in large part to recognize "the rise in prominence of the nursing profession, which has taken almost a century to be seriously recognized."

pickledpepperRN · Oct 5, 2003

Pictures taken at the centennial:

http://www.calnurse.org/