Monthly Archives: November 2013
Hastings nurses not waiting for answers
Nurses hope Regina Medical Center gets improvements to continue to care for the Hastings community
Nurses at Regina Medical Center in Hastings are a determined bunch, and they want parity. For now, they’ll take answers. About 30 of them attended the latest round of bargaining talks to meet with management and make a statement that they support their negotiating team.
One hitch: management heard that nurses wanted to attend, and their bargaining team stayed in their caucus room rather than come out and meet them. The employer, forgot, however, that their caucus room has a window to the sidewalk. So, nurses tracked down their meeting room and made their statement through the window to force the employer’s negotiators to turn around and see them.
“They’re disgusted. They’re frustrated. They want it settled,” said chair Jane Traynor. “They were energized about it (the session). They’re disappointed management wouldn’t meet with them and it gave them a taste of what we (the negotiating team) have been going through.”
What nurses have been going through has been the run-around. Despite beginning bargaining in April, nurses learned in July that Regina was being sold to Allina Health, but they’ve heard no explanations about how the sale affects their contract.
Nor have they said anything about Allina’s Metro contract being a model for Hastings nurses, who also work in the 7-county Twin Cities metro.
“Nurses want what Allina nurses have. We are not second rate,” Traynor said, “We have to maintain the same credentials as any other nurse. We deserve the same pay and the same benefits. We don’t want to set a precedent in Hastings to accept less and have that become the rule for Abbott or other Allina nurses.”
Allina just held two mandatory meetings for staff but spent the session showing a PR video about Allina’s mission. Management said they do want to be “compassionate” and “fair” to employees but also that they’re “solidifying” positions.
“That means layoffs,” Traynor said, “People are worried about their jobs. And they didn’t say anything about that.”
Allina also hasn’t made a commitment to the Hastings community. Regina Medical Center’s clinics and hospitals need work, including a new ER, and nurses hope new investment will allow Hastings nurses to take care of their neighbors.
“We have an older population here. It’s difficult for them to go to the (Twin) cities,” Traynor said.
Dress up like a Gypsy
Great things are happening in the Travel Nursing Community. In an effort to promote travel nurse socialization and support, The Gypsy Nurse Ambassador Program was born. As a part of the Gypsy Nurse Ambassador Program, we have organized events happening all over the country. The Gypsy Nurse Ambassadors work hard to bring you exciting and fun events as frequently as possible. In addition to meeting other Gypsy Nurses and having a Great time, you can earn your Gypsy Bracelet and Charm by attending an Ambassador sponsored event! Dress up like a Gypsy Online, TN This event was organized by your Gypsy Ambassador Cheryl We held a contest on the Caravan Group page for those Gypsies NOT attending The 2013 Travelers Conference in Las Vegas. The contest was to dress up and post a picture of their best Gypsy dress. Steph Legere is our winner of a Gas Card. Thank you to all of those that participated and congratulations to our winner Steph Legere! Your Ambassadors Want to know what the Gypsy Nurse Ambassadors are planning? Check the Calendar for upcoming events near you!! If you have an Ambassador in your area, get in touch with them and suggest an event!
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Travel Nurse Daily: November 5, 2013
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-• limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. Source: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDTSTRS/default.aspx
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Change Ahead Seminar Series: Prime Yourself for Change
Travel Nursing Blogs Statement on MTV’s “Scrubbing In”
Our blog has been covering the run-up to MTV’s travel nurse reality show “Scrubbing In” for several months now. We anxiously awaited the premiere, were able to dish with one of the show’s cast members, Tyrice, and recapped the first episode.
Our number one hope for the show was that it would illuminate the important work that travel nurses do in hospitals across the world every day. We gave “Scrubbing In” the benefit of the doubt, even when the majority of our readers condemned it. However, now that the show has aired a couple of episodes and we feel Travel Nursing Blogs has given it a fair shake, we would like to express our disappointment in its content and portrayal of travel nurses.
We want to make it clear that we do not judge the nine cast members for their lifestyle choices. These choices, as far as romantic relationships, social habits, and other such personal preferences are just that — personal. Even when these choices are broadcast nationally, we still do not feel than means we should sit in judgement of them.
We also do believe that these nurses care for their patients as much as any nurse — which is a lot! When we interviewed Tyrice, one of the greatest sources of drama in the premiere, it was very clear that she is a dedicated nurse who cares deeply about the profession. The real problem is that we don’t see that angle emphasized in the program’s portrayal. Patient care is given very little screen time and even when it is shown, it is certainly overshadowed by petty personal matters and partying.
The American Nurses Association did a great job of summing up their disappointment in the ANA statement to MTV:
“Each and every day, nurses take on more responsibilities in the delivery of health care. Negative nurse portrayals seriously damage nurse-recruitment efforts and may well exacerbate a shortage that is fast reaching crisis proportions in our nations. Negative images reinforce sexist and inaccurate nurse stereotypes, and these depictions do play a role in shaping the values, impressions and ultimately career choices of young people — the very people who are so desperately needed in the profession. Even more importantly, such negative portrayals erode the highly valued trust of patients and consumers who need the expertise of nurses in their respective health care situations. Based on the premiere, this show is neither ‘reality’ nor entertainment; it is harmful and irresponsible.”
This Travel Nursing Blogs statement on MTV’s “Scrubbing In” very much agrees with the ANA’s wise and well-worded assessment.
We will continue to follow the show in hopes that it may reveal itself to be more positive in its depiction of travel nurses, but you likely won’t see as close of coverage as we have been doing over the past several months.
We hope that this Travel Nursing Blogs statement on MTV’s “Scrubbing In” makes our position clear to all of our faithful readers. Now, faithful reader, what do you think about “Scrubbing In”? Are you still watching?
Notable Nurse Margie Oppenheimer
Holocaust survivor and nurse Margie Oppenheimer was born on May 9, 1924, in Oelde, Germany. On November 9, 1938, she and her family were attacked in a pogrom known as “Kristallnacht” (Night of the Broken Glass) and in December 1941 deported to the Jewish ghetto in Riga, Latvia. Over the next several years, Oppenheimer […]
Grants for e-Health
The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority is releasing $500,000 in grant funding to electronic Health Information Exchanges (eHIEs) in Pennsylvania to launch consumer awareness and education campaigns in their local marketplace. eHIEs that are eligible to apply for the grant are those that have committed to connect to the Authority’s eHIE Network (Community Shared Services layer) by the end of the first quarter, 2014.
The communications campaign will utilize key messages found in the Authority’s Strategic and Operational Plan of 2012 and in the findings of the 2013 Consumer Survey of the Public’s Perception of eHIE.
An organization may submit only one application, in which the funding amount requested cannot exceed $100,000. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for acceptable applications that meet the provisions of the grant to develop a campaign plan per Items 1 and 2 of the application. Funds received from the Authority under this grant must be spent no later than 12/31/13.
Additional documents needed for this grant are located on the Authority’s website.
Questions about the application must be submitted to: ra-paehealth@pa.gov by November 6. All questions and responses will be shared with applicants on November 8. Applications should be sent to ra-paehealth@pa.gov by November 15, 2013.
Diabetes Proverbs
Via: http://www.haideemerritt.com/
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Weekly Nursing Vital Signs: What’s new and happening in the News
Here are your weekly Vital Signs for week ending 11/2/13 Compiled and written by: Teresa Posthumus, RN FDA Drug Shortages Do you know what medications are on the drug shortage list and will affect daily care of our patients. Here are just a few on this week’s list -Magnesium Sulfate Injection, Bupivacaine Hydrochloride (Marcaine, Sensorcaine) Injection. To see the full list go to: FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Protecting and Promoting Your Heath Flu Season is Upon Us What areas are hardest hit by the flu this week? How will the flu affect your patient care this season? Follow latest updates with the CDC by following the link below. FluView A Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report Prepared by the Influenza Department FDA Newly Approved Medications Gazyva (obinutuzumab) Injection – A new medication developed and released for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. How will this change our patient’s life and bedside nursing care? FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration – FDA approves Gazyva for chronic lymphocytic leukemia Are our foods moving towards being healthier for us? Even if it is only 1 food at time. Kraft Mac and Cheese has agreed to take the yellow dye out of their mac and cheese. Read the full article. Kraft Agrees to Take Yellow Dye Out of Mac and Cheese That sums up this weeks Nursing Vital Signs, covering the topics that have been prevalent in the Nursing and Healthcare news streams for the past week. Please visit us again next Monday for more Weekly […]
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