NNU launches “Insist on an RN” campaign with radio ads

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Sweeping changes underway in the nation’s health care delivery system that expose hundreds of thousands of patients to severe risk of harm are the focus of a major new national campaign by the nation’s largest organization of nurses announced today.

An unchecked proliferation of unproven medical technology and sharp erosion of care standards are rapidly spreading through the health care system, far outside the media spotlight but frighteningly apparent to nurses and patients, says National Nurses United.

In response, NNU has launched a major campaign featuring radio ads from coast to coast, video, social media, legislation, rallies, and a call to the public to act, with a simple theme – “when it matters most, insist on a registered nurse.”  The ads were created by North Woods Advertising and produced by Fortaleza Films/Los Angeles.

To watch the new videos and hear the radio ads visit www.insistonanRN.org

Or click below:


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Key features of the new threat to patient safety include:

Digitalized care – experimental, unproven medical technology put patients at risk

Hospitals and other healthcare industry giants are spending billions of dollars on medical technology sold to the public as the cure for everything from medical errors to cutting costs. But the reality is proving to be far different, warns NNU.

Bedside computers that diagnose and dictate treatment for patients, based on generic population trends not the health status or care needs of that individual patient, increasingly supplant the professional assessment and judgment of experienced nurses and doctors exposing patients to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and life-threatening mistakes.

Computerized electronic health records systems too often fail, leaving doctors and nurses in the dark without access to medical histories or medical orders. The Office of the Inspector General for the Health and Human Services Department has reported widespread flaws in the heavily promoted systems. Telemedicine and robotics marketed as improved care deprive patients of individualized care so essential to the therapeutic process central to healing.

The face of future health care – a world without hospital care

Cutting costs is now seen as the prime directive in health care. Unwilling to reduce their profits or limit excessive pricing practices, the means to limiting expenses in the healthcare industry is by restricting or rationing care.

Insurance companies do that by denying claims or setting out-of-pocket costs so high Americans lead the developed world in skipping care when they need it because of the price. Hospitals, especially those that are also insurance companies, like Kaiser Permanente, or linking up with insurers through the new Accountable Care Organizations, restrict care by cutting patient services, limiting hospital admissions, or discharging still very ill patients to clinics, nursing facilities, or home, all settings that have fewer staff and regulations. Hospitals overall, have profit margins of 35 percent for elective outpatient services, compared to just 2 percent for inpatient care.

Nurses every day see patients denied admission who need hospital care, held on hallway gurneys in emergency departments, or parked in “observation” units. Observation is the latest fad in large part because Medicare reimbursement penalties for patients re-admitted within 30 days for the same illness do not apply if the patient was discharged from an observation unit.

The ascendance of profits while reducing access to professional nursing care

Hospital industry profits are at a record high – some $64.4 billion in 2012, according to American Hospital Association data.  Kaiser Permanente, which is the model for many of the industry trends, just reported first-quarter profits of $1.1 billion, up nearly 44 percent from a year ago.

Yet, as one of the new NNU radio ads notes, many of those hospitals are spending their profits and patients’ health care dollars “on everything but quality patient care” – on technology, Wall Street investments, buying up other hospitals, while cutting the staff of bedside registered nurses, “the health professionals most critical to your care and safety.”

Inadequate, unsafe staffing is proliferating through the nation’s hospitals, even as hospitals shift care to other settings leaving the patients able to get in, and stay in hospitals, facing often perilous care standards. Just one example of many, in a report released May 12,  Washington, DC nurses cited 215 incidents of severe understaffing, including life-threatening events, in District hospitals the past 15 months. RNs in DC and several states are pursuing safe staffing legislation.

‘Behind every statistic a patient exposed to unnecessary suffering’

“The American health care system already lags behind other industrialized nations in a wide array of essential health barometers from infant mortality to life expectancy. These changing trends in health care threaten to make it worse,” said NNU Co-President Jean Ross, RN. “Behind every statistic is a patient, and their family, who are exposed to unnecessary suffering and risk as a result of the focus on profits rather than what is best for individual patient need.”

“What we are advising every patient, every American to do is stand up and be heard,” said Ross. “When it matters most, insist on a registered nurse.”

MNA Legislative Update May 9, 2014

MNA Legislative Update May 9, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board  Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

On Monday the House voted to accept the changes the Senate made to bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) last week. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals (known in statute as Charitable Hospitals). Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.

 

Despite attempts by hospitals, an amendment to exempt Charitable Hospitals facilities failed. Another amendment to delay implementation of the PERB for Charitable Hospitals for one year also failed.

 

The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature.

 

APRN Bill

Last week the Senate unanimously passed Sen. Kathy Sheran’s bill (SF511) to allow Advance Practice Registered Nurses to practice to the full extent of their scope was heard on the Senate floor. Her bill would give full practice authority to Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. The bill allows APRNs to practice independently, but does limit CRNA’s who will continue to require a collaborative management agreement with a physician to practice pain management.

 

On Thursday the House took up the Senate version of the bill. After many attempts to add more barriers to APRN practice, the House passed the bill 119-13 with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. MNA supports this bill to allow APRNs to practice to the top of their license and training. This bill represents years of work by advocates for APRNs, and we are glad to see it move on to the Governor for his signature.

 

Medical Marijuana

On Tuesday the Senate passed a bill legalizing the medical use of marijuana for serious medical conditions. With a vote of 48-18, a strong bipartisan majority showed support for the ability of patients will qualifying conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizures and glaucoma to access relief from medical cannabis. The bill allows several means of taking medical marijuana, but prohibits smoking marijuana.

 

In the House, a narrower bill that does not legalize medical marijuana, but creates a clinical study that would allow some patients with qualifying conditions access to some types of medical cannabis, is being debated on the House floor today (Friday, May 9). At least 50 amendments are expected.

 

MNA supports legislation that would provide compassionate relief to seriously ill patients. While the Senate version of the bill would allow more patients to access treatment, and we prefer it to the House bill, we are supportive of any legislation that moves us closer to providing patients with access to relief.

 

Steve’s Law

The bill to broaden the availability of Naloxone (Narcan) for first responders to use in cases of opiate overdose (SF1900) passed the House unanimously on Wednesday. Members of both parties spoke eloquently about the disease of addiction and the great promise this bill has to save lives and give individuals suffering with substance use disorders a second chance. The bill is on its way to the Governor for his signature. MNA proudly supports this bill.

 

Women’s Economic Security Act

The House voted on the Conference Report (the version agreed on by both House and Senate negotiators) for the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) on Wednesday. The vote of 104-24 showed strong bipartisan support for the most significant women’s rights legislation in years. The Senate debated the bill on Thursday night, and an attempt to send the bill back to conference committee (which would have probably doomed it) failed on a vote of 33-32. After that attempt failed, the bill passed by a bipartisan vote of 43-24.

 

The Women’s Economic Security Act:

  • allows mothers to stay in the workforce by expanding family leave and providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing employees
  • Decreases the gender pay gap through the participation of women in high-wage, high-demand occupations in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
  • Decreases the gender pay gap by reducing the “motherhood penalty” by requiring equal employment treatment regardless of “familial status.”
  • Addresses negative economic consequences of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault
  • Enhances retirement security by considering a state retirement savings plan for those without an employer-provided option

 

MNA supports this bill, and many nurses contacted their legislators and should be proud of their part in passing this historic legislation. The bill will now go to the Governor for his signature.

 

Health and Human Services Policy Omnibus Bills

The House passed the Health and Human Services Policy Omnibus Bill on Monday by a vote of 86-46. Among many other provisions, the HHS Omnibus Bill contains language that MNA supports related to the Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP) and health professionals with substance use disorders. The bill strengthens and stabilizes the HPSP, which provides monitoring for health professionals with substance use disorders and other impairments. The bill also strengthens the ability of licensing boards to protect the public from providers who may pose a safety risk to patients, while protecting the privacy of providers.

The House HHS Omnibus Bill also bans the use of tanning beds by minors and regulates the use of e-cigarettes, proposals MNA supports.

The Senate took up their HHS Omnibus Bill on Thursday, and passed it with language regulating tanning and e-cigarettes intact. The Senate bill also contains language regarding the Health Professionals Services Program, but that language is less robust than the House version, and is more permissive regarding health licensing boards’ authority to suspend health professionals who pose a risk to patient safety.

Supplemental Budget Bills

The House and Senate are also working out the differences between their supplemental budget bills in a conference committee. In his supplemental budget recommendation, Governor Dayton included $11 million this year and $22 million in the next biennium to cover the cost of negotiated salary increases for staff working in 24-hour care facilities within State Operated Services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, which includes many MNA members. While neither the House nor the Senate has included this funding in their respective omnibus bills, we have spoken to conference committee members and about the serious consequences of not funding the State Operated Services salary supplement. We will continue to monitor the negotiations.

 

Synthetic Drugs

The Senate passed a bill prohibiting the sale of synthetic drugs by a vote of 53-1 on Wednesday. The House passed the companion bill last month, but there are significant differences between the two versions, so the bill will go to a conference committee. MNA supports this bill.

Nurses Week May 6-12

On Tuesday, the Governor issued a proclamation honoring nurses and declaring May 6-12 Nurses Week in Minnesota. In addition, Senators and Representatives who are also nurses spoke on the floor of both bodies to honor nurses. Thank you to Governor Dayton, Representative Erin Murphy, Representative Patti Fritz, Representative Karen Clark, Representative Jerry Hertaus, Senator Chris Eaton and Senator Mary Kiffmeyer for their words in honor of the profession of nursing. Visit the MNA blog to read their remarks and see photos from the Capitol.

 

From the MNA staff, Happy Nurses Week to all of you, and thank you for all you do as health care providers and as union members. We are honored to work for you.

 

Minnesota Honors Its Nurses

 

Click to view slideshow.

On May 6, 2014, elected officials in Minnesota kicked off Nurses Week (May 6 – 12) with proclamations and public statements celebrating Minnesota’s nurses.  In the coming days, throughout the state, nurses will continue to demonstrate how Nurses Care by sharing their stories, using their contract to advocate for their patients, conducting food and clothing drives and feeding those in need.

Statement made in the Minnesota Senate.

Senator Chris Eaton, RN

The State of Minnesota places the highest priority on quality health care for all of our citizens and counts 116,685 dedicated and professional licensed nurses in the state.  Nurses continue to meet the different and emerging health care needs of Minnesotans in a wide range of settings, including large medical centers, local hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, veterans homes, and community facilities.

Nurses continue to provide the cost-effective and high quality health care services that will be an even more important component of Minnesota’s health care delivery system.  We know that in the future professional nursing will continue to be an indispensable component in the safety and quality of care of hospitalized patients.

More qualified registered nurses will be needed in the future to meet the renewed emphasis on primary and preventive health care and increasingly complex needs of health care consumers in Minnesota.  The Minnesota Nurses Association has declared the week of May 6-12 as NURSES WEEK to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale with the theme NURSES CARE to celebrate the many ways in which registered nurses strive to provide safe and high quality patient care and continue to serve to be an advocate for patients.

We honor nurses in Minnesota today. Some of them from the Minnesota Nurses Association are here with us in the gallery.   Some of our colleagues in the chamber are also proud to be licensed nurses in the state of Minnesota.   We salute you and all the ways you care for us, our families, and all patients in Minnesota.  Statements made in the Minnesota House of Representatives, honoring nurses and the profession of nursing.

House Majority Leader, Rep Erin Murphy, RN

I rise today to recognize the annual celebration of Nurses Week. We honor the contributions made by 116,401 nurses licensed in our state today, and the legacy of those remarkable professionals who have gone before them.  Nurses Week begins today and ends on May 12 – the birthday of modern nursing’s pioneer, Florence Nightingale.  Nurses Care.  Not only for individuals, but for whole communities as well, and I am proud to stand today in support and solidarity with my fellow nurses – the most trusted professionals in America, according to the Gallup Honest and Ethic poll for 14 of the last 15 years running.

Nurses care holistically.  Nurses assess and treat mind, body and spirit with a delicate balance of clinical skills and heartfelt compassion.  Nurses care with dedication, courage and hard work.  Nurses care under some of the most stress-filled circumstances one can imagine.  Nurses care for the most vulnerable among us, when no one is looking. But Nurses Week is the opportunity to shine a light on this noble profession.  With that in mind, I yield to my colleagues (who wish to go on record).

Rep. Patti Fritz:

We take a week to recognize nurses because so often the act of caring is done in the quiet shadows beyond the bright lights of the operating theater.  So often, the art of caring is taken for granted.  So often the skill of caring takes a back seat to the thrill of technology.   This Nurses Week, let us pause and reflect on the good work nurses do. Let us celebrate the impact they’ve had on our own lives and the lives of our loved ones.  Let us bear witness to the influence nurses have on the health of every Minnesotan.  Let us say “thank you” for careers that have touched countless lives.

Rep. Karen Clark

Nurses care for us when we take in our first breath and exhale our last. They care for us in myriad settings, including destination medical centers, local hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, Veterans Homes community facilities and even in our homes. Now and in the future, nursing will continue to be an indispensable component in the safety and quality of care Minnesotans receive.

Nurses are at the forefront of innovation for the delivery of care where ever it needs to be delivered.  Yet amidst the rapid and transformative changes occurring in health care, we can be assured nurses will always carry the ethical torch of advocacy to ease our worries and guide us toward healing.

Rep. Jerry Hertaus:

In Minnesota, we take pride in our high quality health care.  So too, let us honor this proud profession with its rigorous training and education. As the largest segment of care providers in the health care field, nurses are poised to be change agents, whose ideas and creativity will continue to improve patient outcomes.  With high touch and high tech, nurses are the real deal and the ideal asset for our emerging needs.

Rep. Erin Murphy:

We stand today to honor nurses in Minnesota. Some nurses are here in the Capitol with us today, and we salute you and all the ways you care for us, our families, our communities and everyone in Minnesota. Nurses Care.  And we care for Nurses.  Thank you.

 

MNA Legislative Update May 2, 2014

Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

MNA Legislative Update May 2, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board

A bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) was passed by the full Senate on Monday. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals (known in statute as Charitable Hospitals). Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.

 

Many nurses contacted their senators last week asking them to oppose attempts to remove Charitable Hospitals from the bill, and we are pleased to report that an amendment to exempt those facilities failed. Another amendment to delay implementation of the PERB for Charitable Hospitals for one year also failed.

 

The companion bill was already passed by the House, and, next week, we anticipate the House will vote to concur with the Senate version of the bill, which would then go on to the Governor for his signature.

 

APRN Bill

Sen. Kathy Sheran’s bill (SF511) to allow Advance Practice Registered Nurses to practice to the full extent of their scope was heard on the Senate floor. Her bill would give full practice authority to Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. The bill allows APRNs to practice independently, but does limit CRNA’s who will continue to require a collaborative management agreement with a physician to practice pain management.

 

The bill passed unanimously, and we anticipate the House will vote to concur with the Senate language, which MNA supports over the House language.

 

Medical Marijuana

The bill to legalize medical marijuana prescribed by a physician for certain serious medical conditions (SF1641) passed the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday then passed Judiciary without recommendation on Wednesday. The Senate Health and Human Services Finance Division amended the bill today to prohibit smoking medical marijuana, but would still allow “vaping,” the inhaling of fumes through a charged liquid vaporizer.

 

On Thursday, Representative Carly Melin and House leadership announced a new medical marijuana proposal (SF2470) that would pave the way for clinical trials for patients with qualifying conditions such as seizures, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and glaucoma. Because the bill prohibits smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes, law enforcement is neutral; they have opposed other bills that allow smoking as well as other methods of using medicinal marijuana.

 

Today the House Rules Committee is hearing the compromise bill introduced by Rep. Melin. As of this writing they have not yet concluded their hearing.

 

MNA supports legislation that would provide compassionate relief to seriously ill patients.

 

Health and Human Services Policy Omnibus Bills

The Senate and House omnibus Health and Human Services Policy bills have been taken up by a conference committee to work out differences between the two. The bills both include language that MNA supports related to the Health Professionals Services Program and health professionals with substance use disorders.

Supplemental Budget Bills

The House and Senate are also working out the differences between their supplemental budget bills in a conference committee. In his supplemental budget recommendation, Governor Dayton included $11 million this year and $22 million in the next biennium to cover the cost of negotiated salary increases for staff working in 24-hour care facilities within State Operated Services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, which includes many MNA members. While neither the House nor the Senate has included this funding in their respective omnibus bills, we have spoken to conference committee members and about the serious consequences of not funding the State Operated Services salary supplement. We will continue to monitor the negotiations.

 

Nurses Week May 6-12

MNA nurses will be going to the Capitol the morning of Tuesday, May 6 for the kickoff to Nurses’ Week. We’ll meet at the MNA office at 9:00 am to carpool over to the Capitol. We anticipate the House and Senate will go into session around 10:00 or 11:00 am. As legislators enter the chambers, we will give out stickers saying “Nurses Care” then listen to speeches honoring nurses from the Galleries. Please email geri.katz@mnnurses.org if you can come on Tuesday morning.

 

MNA Government Affairs Commissioners and staff with State Representative

Joe Atkins at the Capitol on Wednesday.

MNA Legislative Update April 25, 2014

Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

MNA Legislative Update April 25, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board

 

A bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) has already passed and will be heard by the full Senate on Monday. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals. Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.

 

We have learned that an amendment will be offered on Monday to remove Charitable Hospitals from this legislation. Nurses should have the same system as all other public employees. Use the MNA Grassroots Action Center to CALL OR EMAIL YOUR SENATOR TODAY to ask them to oppose any attempts to strip Charitable Hospitals from the bill.

 

State Employee Salary Supplement

 

The Governor recommended an increase in compensation funding for the Department of Human Service’s Direct Care and Treatment State Operated Services programs and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. The programs are experiencing compensation pressures of negotiated salary increases and increased costs of employer-paid benefits for current employees. This increase would allow the programs to meet these increasing personnel costs and continue to deliver care to their clients.

 

This increase was not included in the House and Senate’s Health and Human Services omnibus bills. The Conference Committee to work out the differences in these bills is meeting now, and the Governor’s office is participating in the negotiations as well. We think there is still a chance for the funding to be included in the final package and will continue to lobby legislators about the importance of this funding.

 

Women’s Economic Security Act

 

On Wednesday, legislation to address discrimination and economic inequality that women face (HF2536) was passed by the full senate 51-14 on a bipartisan basis. It passed the House earlier this month and now moves on to a conference committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. The bill includes pay equity language, policies to protect pregnant and nursing mothers, and protection for domestic violence victims. MNA supports this legislation.

 

Nurse Licensure and Discipline

 

The bills proposing changes to the Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP) and how the Board of Nursing handles nurses with substance use disorders and drug diversion are moving through the legislative process (HF1898 and HF1604). Our priorities remain reflected in the bills – protecting patient safety, treating substance use disorder as a disease, encouraging nurses with substance use disorders to seek rehabilitation treatment, and protecting nurses’ private medical and legal information. The bills are moving in two ways: as stand-alone bills as well as parts of the larger Health and Human Services Omnibus bills, which have not been heard yet in either body.

 

Medical Marijuana

 

The bill to legalize medical marijuana prescribed by a physician for certain serious medical conditions (SF1641) was passed today in the Senate Health Human Services and Housing committee by a 7 to 3 vote. Next it moves on to the State and Local Government Committee. In the House (HF1818), it has been passed by the Health and Human Services Policy Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Government Operations Committee. MNA supports this bill.

 

State Employee Salary Supplement

In his supplemental budget recommendation, Governor Dayton included $11 million this year and $22 million in the next biennium to cover the cost of negotiated salary increases for staff working in 24 hour care facilities within State Operated Services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, including many MNA members. Unfortunately, neither the House nor the Senate has included this funding in their respective omnibus budget bills.

 

The House and Senate Omnibus Supplemental Budget bills will go to conference committee, and they will begin negotiating a final deal with the Governor over the next few weeks. MNA will continue to reach out to the committee members and leadership to advocate for this crucial funding.

 

 

 

Thief River Falls “RN Run” Raises Funds and Fun

RN-RunThief River Falls nurses beat Boston off the starting line of the running season this year, and may have Beantown trying hard to catch up.

MNA members of the Sanford – Thief River Falls Medical Center bargaining unit are celebrating the success of their inaugural 5k RN Run on Saturday, April 19 to raise funds for the community’s D.A.R.E. program.

Nearly 60 runners participated in the event and nurses were able to deliver $836 to the organization dedicated to drug abuse resistance education.

MNA Co-Chair Tiffany Eidelbes credited nurse organizers Kayla Knutson and Karey Johnson with imagining and executing an idea that brought a sizable crowd out for the festivities. “They did an excellent job,” said Eidelbes. “We heard several runners say it was a perfect kick start for upcoming longer runs – and it was fun!” Runners grinned to see the Easter Bunny as race starter.

Community engagement in the event is especially meaningful for the nurses as they head into contract talks with hospital management. “People asked good questions about how the union contract helps us protect our patients,” said bargaining unit Vice Chair, Amber Hawkins. She believes it was an opportunity to provide good insight and background that will result in support down the road. “The event helped set a good tone,” added Hawkins.

The nurse group all agrees they definitely hope to repeat the event.

The 83 members of the MNA bargaining unit will begin talks with hospital management on May 14. The contract expires on July 31.

Click to view slideshow.

 

Signs of Support for IFalls Nurses Line the Streets

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Imagine everyone in your town wanting to let you know you are awesome. MNA nurses in International Falls don’t have to dream.

Eight months into negotiating a contract with management at Rainy Lake Medical Center (RLMC), the 27-member bargaining unit is literally seeing signs of support throughout this picturesque city that shares a border with Canada.

Over 100 signs, sporting the message “We Support Our Nurses” are being posted in shop windows; hoisted high by firefighters, paramedics and EMTs; cradled by senior apartment residents; and displayed on bulletin boards throughout the city’s commercial districts. It’s a message warmly given from the town often referred to as “America’s Icebox.”  In addition, members of several other unions in the area have signed petitions of solidarity for the nurses.

RLMC management has yet to receive the message.  Contract talks on Tuesday ended after the union and hospital could not come to agreement settling outstanding proposals in negotiations.

A key issue is hospital management’s attempt to force a “management rights” clause into the next three-year contract.  Nurses fear the provision could lead to administrative personnel perceiving they have power to make arbitrary decisions that impact nursing practice and patient safety.

A petition, signed by 100 percent of the nurses and delivered to management in February characterized, the tactic as a “serious overreach of authority.”

“When it comes to the care we are able to give and how we can advocate for our patients, this proposal ties our hands,” said MNA negotiating team member Diane Olek.  She is especially concerned about the fast-changing dynamics of health care.“  This is a contract we will have to live with and health care is changing so quickly,” said Olek.  She worries that non-providers believing they can arbitrarily make unilateral decisions about nurse staffing without negotiating them will compromise the safety of patients in the hospital. “Why lock ourselves into this?”

Lisa Hay, an active union member, considers it an unacceptable concession of rights and professional nursing judgment. At a recent all-RN meeting, Hay warned her colleagues “When I looked at the management rights clause I said ‘what you take away from us, you take away from patients’.”

Those values run through the whole nurse group.  “I feel 100 percent support at the table,” said MNA Co-Chair Wendy Sutch.  “All of our nurses feel very strongly they want to have a voice in patient care.” She describes her colleagues as a tight-knit group and especially sees a deep river of resolve in the younger nurses.  “They’re aware of what their future could be based on this contract. Everyone’s on board.”

That solidarity and community support will be on full display for RLMC management to view on Tues., May 6 when MNA nurses intend to conduct an informational picket in front of the hospital from noon – 2:00 p.m.

MNA Legislative Update April 11, 2014

MNA Legislative Update April 11, 2014

There was a lot of activity at the Capitol this week with several major pieces of legislation debated, passed, and signed into law. Many of these were priorities that MNA supports.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Status: Passed by House and Senate

On Monday morning, leaders of the House and Senate announced an agreement to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage (HF2091). The agreement will raise the wage to $9.50 over three years and include an automatic inflationary increase that allows workers to keep up with the cost of living. The final deal includes a provision allowing the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to suspend the inflationary increase in case of an economic downturn. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, and the House passed it on Thursday. Governor Dayton will sign the bill into law on Monday, April 14 at 2:30pm in a public ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda. All Minnesotans are invited to attend the event.

WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT
Status: Passed by House

The WESA (SF2050/HF2536), a package of bills to provide equal opportunities and pay for women, was passed by the full House on Wednesday with a wide bipartisan majority and was passed by the Finance Minnesota State Capitol St Paul MinnesotaCommittee in the Senate on Thursday. It contains provisions to:

  • require businesses contracting with the state to develop a pay equity plan
  • expand pregnancy and sick-leave benefits
  • protect women from workplace discrimination and domestic violence
  • encourage women to enter non-traditional and high-wage jobs; and
  • provide retirement security for women.

 

MNA supports this legislation. Women make up half the state’s workforce and providing them with equal opportunities and pay is critical to our state’s economic future.

 

SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS
Status: Passed by House and Senate and signed into Law

The Safe and Supportive Schools (anti-bullying) bill (HF826) was debated on House Floor on Tuesday and into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. After twelve hours of debate, the bill passed, which will turn Minnesota’s anti-bullying policy from the weakest in the nation to one of the strongest. Governor Dayton signed the bill into law on Wednesday afternoon. MNA supported the bill. Bullying can have serious consequences on a student’s health as well as their ability to learn and succeed, and every child deserves to feel safe and supported at school.

STEVE’S LAW
Status: Passed by Senate

Steve’s Law (SF1900), aimed at preventing deaths from opiate overdose, would increase first responder access to Naloxone (aka Narcan) an opioid inhibitor, which has been shown to increase a patient’s chances of survival. The bill is authored by Sen. Chris Eaton, an RN and MNA member, and passed the Senate floor unanimously on Tuesday. The bill now moves on to the House, where we anticipate it will also pass. We support this bill because it has the potential to reduce the high number of heroin overdose deaths.

SYNTHETIC DRUG BAN
Status: Passed by House

The bill to outlaw the sale of synthetic drugs (HF2446) passed the House floor unanimously on Wednesday. It now moves on to the Senate, where we expect it will pass. MNA supports this bill to address a serious public health concern.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RELATIONS BOARD
Status: Passed by House

A bill to create a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) to handle unfair labor practice charges from public employees, including MNA members in charitable hospitals, was passed by the House on Monday night. The bill then went to the Senate and was passed by the Finance Committee on Wednesday. The bill will move next to the Senate floor for a vote.

Many of MNA’s other legislative priorities are still moving through the legislative process:

State Employee Salary Supplement

In his supplemental budget recommendation, Governor Dayton included $11 million this year and $22 million in the next biennium to cover the cost of negotiated salary increases for staff working in 24 hour care facilities within State Operated Services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, including many MNA members. Unfortunately, neither the House nor the Senate has included this funding in their respective omnibus budget bills.

 

The House and Senate Omnibus Supplemental Budget bills will go to conference committee, and they will begin negotiating a final deal with the Governor over the next few weeks. MNA will continue to reach out to the committee members and leadership to advocate for this crucial funding.

 

5% Campaign

Funding to give a 5 percent increase to long term care workers in home and community based facilities and intermediate care facilities for those with developmental disabilities was included in both the House and Senate Health and Human Services omnibus bills. The bills include language that would mandate the majority of the funds go directly to workers. We expect this will be a part of the final Health and Human Services finance package.

Nurse Licensure and Discipline

The bills proposing changes to the Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP) and how the Board of Nursing handles nurses with substance use disorders and drug diversion (HF1898 and HF1604) are moving through the legislative process. Our priorities remain reflected in the bills: protecting patient safety, treating substance use disorder as a disease, encouraging nurses with substance use disorders to seek rehabilitation treatment, and protecting nurses’ private medical and legal information.

APRN Coalition Bill

A bill to enact the APRN consensus model (SF511) passed the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday and will move on to a vote on the Senate floor. The bill recognizes advanced practice registered nursing as an independent practice under the regulatory authority of the Board of Nursing. It would eliminate unnecessary legislative and administrative barriers to APRN practice. MNA supports this bill because it would help ease the shortage of primary care providers and would allow APRNs to practice at the top of their scope.

 

Spring Break

The legislature will be on break from April 11-22. There will be no legislative update next Friday. For those of you who celebrate, best wishes for Easter and Passover from MNA.

New Concern for Safe Staffing Form

CSS formLast year at the State Capitol, legislators were impressed when the Minnesota Nurses Association turned over boxes of Concern for Safe Staffing Forms at committee hearings.

The forms helped make the case that patients are at risk and nurses are advocating for better staffing to improve quality care.

Now the form has been improved to allow for database search and data analysis.  We will now be able to tell lawmakers and patients how many incidents of unsafe staffing occurred at facilities; how many times nurses felt their patients were at risk; how many times management ignored or simply dismissed requests by nurses to bring in more staff because they were caring for too many patients at one time.

While some nurses may have had HIPAA concerns over filling out the forms, the new forms do not require any specific patient information, and if patient information concerns are necessary (such as acuity) to indicate an unsafe staffing situation, those details can be provided in a separate format where HIPAA concerns can be addressed before they become public.

Bookmark http://www.unsafeshift.org on all your devices in the event you need to access the form quickly and reliably.  The new Concern for Safe Staffing form is the latest tool to show managers and policy makers that unsafe staffing continues to be an issue that must be addressed.

MNA Legislative Update April 5, 2014

MNA Legislative Update April 5, 2014Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

Minimum Wage

Legislative leaders are still in discussions about raising the minimum wage (HF92). Both the House and Senate agree on raising the wage to $9.50, but only the House currently supports including an annual inflationary increase in the legislation, called indexing, that allows minimum wage workers to keep up with the rising costs of food, housing, and transportation. Last week the Senate introduced a bill that would have asked the voters to decide on the minimum wage and inflationary increases, but this week the author, Sen. Ann Rest, withdrew the bill. MNA supports an increased minimum wage with an automatic inflationary increase so low wage workers can catch up and keep up.

Please use the MNA Grassroots Action Center to contact your Senator and ask him or her to support an increased and indexed minimum wage.

Synthetic Drugs

Rep. Erik Simonson’s bill to outlaw synthetic drugs (HF2446) has passed through many committees already and passed the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday and will move on to a floor vote. Senate companion (SF2028) is waiting for a hearing in Finance Committee, which is probably the last committee stop before a floor vote. MNA supports this bill as an important step in reducing the impact of synthetic drugs on our communities.

Public Employee Relations Board

A bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014)is moving as legislators on the House Ways and Means Committee passed it on Tuesday. The Senate Finance Committee will hear it next week. The House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill to include employees of charitable hospitals, including many MNA nurses. This legislation creates a board where public employees could bring unfair labor practice complaints, rather than bringing them to district court, which would mirror the private sector process. Since the district court process is cumbersome and expensive, this new board would save employers and employees significant amounts of money.

Women’s Economic Security Act

Legislation to address discrimination and economic inequality that women face (HF2536) was passed by the House Ways and Means committee on Wednesday and is on the way to the House for a floor vote. In the Senate, we are still waiting for a floor vote to be scheduled. MNA supports this legislation because women make up half the state’s workforce and providing them with equal opportunities and pay is critical to our state’s economic future.  Anti-Bullying Bill

The full Minnesota Senate voted on the Safe and Supportive Schools bill (HF826) on Thursday. After six hours of debate and many amendments from opponents, the bill passed. It now goes back to the House for a final vote, which could happen early next week.

Minnesota currently has the weakest anti-bullying law in the country. MNA supports the bill, which will provide schools with the tools to prevent and intervene in cases of bullying so that all of our students feel safe and supported when they come to school.

State Employee Salary Supplement

The Governor recommended an increase in compensation funding for the Department of Human Service’s Direct Care and Treatment State Operated Services programs and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. The programs are experiencing compensation pressures of negotiated salary increases and increased costs of employer-paid benefits for current employees. This increase would allow the programs to meet these increasing personnel costs and continue to deliver care to their clients.

This increase was not included in the House and Senate’s Health and Human Services omnibus bills. We’re monitoring negotiations about these and continuing to talk to legislators about the need for this funding, and we think there is still a chance for the funding to be included in the final package.

5% Campaign

Funding to give an increase to long term care workers who do not work in nursing homes was included in both the House and Senate Health and Human Services omnibus bills. The bills include language that would mandate the majority of the funds go directly to workers. We expect this will be a part of the final Health and Human Services finance package.

Nurse Licensure and Discipline

The bills proposing changes to the Health Professionals Services Program (HPSP) and how the Board of Nursing handles nurses with substance use disorders and drug diversion are moving through the legislative process (HF1898 and HF1604) . Our priorities remain reflected in the bills – protecting patient safety, treating substance use disorder as a disease, encouraging nurses with substance use disorders to seek rehabilitation treatment, and protecting nurses’ private medical and legal information.

Community EMT

MNA was very concerned about legislation that would create a Community Emergency Medical Technician position that would be reimbursed under Medical Assistance (HF3288/SF2862). The role of the Community EMT would be to provide interventions intended to prevent avoidable ambulance transportation or emergency department use. This could include the performance of minor medical procedures, initial assessments within the Community EMT Scope of Practice, care coordination, diagnosis related to patient education and chronic disease management monitoring. While we recognize that there are gaps in our medical system, MNA opposed this legislation because Community EMTs would not be fully trained in nursing care, therefore not suitable to provide this type of care to the community. This new role could encourage a decrease in public health nursing, an area that is already facing a shortage. We raised these concerns with legislators, and the bill does not appear to be moving this session.