Monthly Archives: June 2014

06.27.14
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Safe Staffing Study

This week, House Resolution 920, introduced by Safe Staffing prime sponsor Representative Mauree Gingrich (R-101), was passed by the House Human Services Committee. This resolution directs the Joint State Government Committee to study nurse staffing levels and has been referred to the House floor for consideration by all 203 State representatives.

Representative Gingrich and PSNA have collaborated on this comprehensive resolution that will look at professional bedside registered nurse demographics, length of stay in the profession, length of shifts, overtime requirements and hospital unit staffing levels. The goal of this study is to retrieve unbiased facts surrounding these issues and present them to lawmakers.

Take Action Today! Urge for Support of HR 920.

Click here to quickly contact your representative.

 

06.27.14
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Travel Nurse Stories From the Road: Caring and Doing What Feels Right

The following is a Guest Post via Lynnette Marshall (Mack) Sometimes as a nurse or a travel nurse it’s not the big things but the small things that make the most difference. The following story from one of our  fellow Travel Nurses, shows exactly this. One night I had a trauma patient with his girlfriend […]

The post Travel Nurse Stories From the Road: Caring and Doing What Feels Right appeared first on The Gypsy Nurse.

06.26.14
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North Memorial Nurses Send a Clear Message: Protect Patient Safety

Click to view slideshow.

The sidewalks around North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale on June 24 were filled with more than 500 nurses, nurse assistants, janitors, food service workers and supporters from as far away as Bemidji uniting in opposition to the hospital’s plan to cut nursing staff to dangerously low levels.

They spoke loudly and passionately about the hospital’s plan to increase the number of patients each nurse cares for and how it would endanger patient safety.

“They want to change the game and increase staff to unsafe levels,” said North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Mary Turner. “North Memorial nurses want to provide the care patients need and deserve – and this plan will reduce our ability to provide safe care for every patient.”

“Patient safety has always been my number-one concern,” said North Memorial nurse Monifa Owens, who picketed with her baby son and teen-age daughter.

“We’re out to let our voices be heard for patient safety,” said Angela Oseland, another North Memorial RN. “More nurses are taking more patients, who are sicker and need more care.”

The signs picketers carried told the story: “No to North Memorial Cuts,” “Patients Before Profits,” “Protect Patient Safety,” “Safe Standards Now,” “If Nurses are Outside, Something is Wrong Inside.”

“We’re going to fight for you,” North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Trent Burns told the crowd.

“The number of people who took the time to stand with us – North Memorial staff who finished a long shift and came straight to the picket line, supporters from around the state as well as nurses from Metro hospit

als, and elected officials including House Speaker Paul Thissen and Majority Leader Erin Murphy – are a testament to the importance of this issue,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton. “This was the first time that MNA and SEIU Healthcare served picket notices at the same time and partnered on informational picketing. We are all fighting for patients.”

Here’s a  new video from the picketing.

Check out this link to the significant body of research that correlates nurse staffing and patient outcomes.