Daily Archives: May 23, 2013

05.23.13
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Mankato Nurses Boldly Begin Negotiations with Community Utmost in Mind

Solidarity 470 Registered Nurses at Mankato Mayo entered contract negotiations today as a united group determined to address troubling staffing issues at the hospital that members believe put patients at risk. Lead MNA negotiator David Nachreiner reflected the views of the mass of responses the team collected from colleagues throughout the hospital as he read the Opening Statement. “My colleagues and I approach these negotiations with one primary focus.   We believe our patients – our families, friends and neighbors of this community – face unnecessary risk when they require the services of this hospital.  They face that risk primarily due to inadequate staffing and poor planning.  The nurses of this bargaining unit are very concerned about the staffing shortages we experience every day.  Each of us receives about five texts a day requesting us to pick up shifts.  How can that be safe?  Especially when we’ve already worked 8, 9, 10 or 12 hours.  Ladies and gentlemen, hoping nurses will respond to relentless texts is not a plan. “The lack of devotion on the part of this administration regarding safe staffing only creates a dangerous environment to people of our community when they at their most vulnerable.

Signing in for colleagues who wanted to join the Negotiating Team in spirit.

Signing in for colleagues who wanted to join the Negotiating Team in spirit.

“To retain the quality RN workforce this community deserves – to make Mankato a destination Medical Center of its own – requires commitment and the power of collaboration.  Unfortunately, we are troubled by recent actions that minimizes the mutual trust you hope for, exemplified by the unilateral changes made in health insurance benefits without input or consideration of impact to nurses. “It’s time these negotiations bring a fair and positive agreement that rewards our dedication, our skill and our professional knowledge. It’s time we combine our expertise to reach an agreement that will recruit the best of the best and keep the finest of the finest. We are confident that fair wages, robust insurance and most of all, ethical staffing plans developed in partnership will lead to the quality care our community expects and values. “Have no doubt, you will find my colleagues and I are fiercely united in our positions – we hope you join us for the sake of our patients and neighbors.”

05.23.13
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Program Expands Access to Nurse-Managed Care

Senator Ted Erickson’s (R-26) Senate Bill 5, Community-Based Health Care Clinics, was signed into law by Governor Corbett on May 21, 2013. Now Act 10 of 2013, this law provides for the establishment of the Community-Based Health Care Program within the Department of Health, paving the way for certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified registered nurse anesthetists to receive grant funding to provide greater access to health care services.

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, representing more than 211,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, supported Senate Bill 5 and the inclusion of APRNs within the legislation. These advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) open, manage and maintain clinics across the Commonwealth. In today’s changing health care environment, APRNs deliver high-quality and cost-effective primary care, and reduce overall health care costs by expanding and improving access to the underserved and uninsured.

“PSNA is proud to be a leading voice for increased patient access to nurse-managed care,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “Senator Erickson has been a champion of this vital legislation and we thank him as he stands with nurses during these transformative times. We also applaud Governor Corbett for making this bill a legislative priority.”

05.23.13
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Thank You

The PSNA Board of Directors and staff would like to thank our attendees from this week’s Nursing Awards and Summit. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and will join us for our Fall Summit: Environmental Health titled “Ecocentric Nursing Practice: Sustaining a Healthy Future in Local to Global Environments”. Watch our site and Facebook for pictures of this week’s events! A special thank you to our host, DeSales University, Center Valley.

05.23.13
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Oakland City Council Approves Resolution to Support Robin Hood Tax

Registered Nurse Thorild Urdal told the Oakland City Council recently how she sees patients struggling everyday to survive during these tough economic times. They’re delaying healthcare, rationing medication or not buying medication at all.

“I see them coming in worse and worse shape, “ the Alta Bates Medical Center nurse said.

That’s why Urdal and her fellow nurses are calling for a Robin Hood Tax to help our communities recover from the economic crisis caused by Wall Street.

On Tuesday, they sought the city council’s support for U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison’s H.R. 1579, the Inclusive Prosperity Act, which embodies the Robin Hood Tax.

It’s a small tax – 0.5 percent on the sale of stocks and lesser rates on bonds, derivatives and currency trades.

The tax can raise up to $350 billion a year that can go toward funding healthcare, education, jobs, housing and retirement and help fight climate change and HIV/AIDS.

After hearing from the nurses, council members voted unanimously to support Ellison’s bill.

Earlier in the day, nurses and other community members held a “Robin Hood Faire” outside Oakland City Hall.

The event was part of a week of actions by California Nurses Association and other labor and community groups to call for Oakland leaders stand up to Wall Street and corporate interests.

At the fair, Robin Hood Tax campaigners wore Robin Hood hats and educated passersby about Wall Street sales tax.

They gave out “Wall Street dollars,” which represented new revenue the tax would generate. People could put the fake bills in bags marked with critical goals of the Robin Hood Tax campaign, including “Medicare for All,” “End Global AIDS/HIV,” “Retirement Security,” “Quality Education,” “Affordable Housing,” “Living Wage Jobs” and “Reverse Climate Change.

Three-year-old Isiah Player stuffed his Wall Street dollar in the bag for education.

“I think the Robin Hood Tax is a great idea, especially for education,” Isiah’s mother, Judith Barajas, said after learning about the tax. “I talk to him about how education is so important.”

Judith doesn’t want her son to see her struggles. She fears getting sick because she lost her healthcare when she was laid off. The two don’t have a permanent place to live – often staying with friends and family. She wants to finish her college degree at St. Mary’s College but is already swimming in student debt.

“It’s just hard out here,” she said as she watched her son play with a blue balloon tied to his wrist. “Robin Hood Tax sounds like it can help.”