Monthly Archives: July 2014
Protect VA Patients and Nurses: Support S. 1556 and H.R. 4580
Ensure Strong Patient Advocacy and Collective Bargaining Rights
Certain Veterans Affairs (VA) professionals gained the right to bargain collectively in 1991. They have the right to negotiate, file grievances, and arbitrate disputes over working conditions, except for matters concerning or arising out of professional conduct or competence, peer review, or compensation (Section 7422 of Title 38 of the U.S. code). However, over the last several years, the interpretation of the statute’s exemptions to collective bargaining has broadened considerably, leaving workers with few meaningful collective bargaining rights.
These exemptions are unfortunate for both workers and patients. The collective bargaining process is key to providing healthcare that is centered on the patient. Registered nurses (RNs), as the frontline workers in the healthcare system, have a right and a duty to be patient advocates. As such, they are quite motivated and well qualified to advocate for the highest quality care available for the heroic men and women who have laid their lives and health on the line in defense of our nation. Previous legislation to remove such restrictions was supported by the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Vietnam Veterans of America.
S. 1556 (introduced by Senators Brown, Begich and Merkley) and H.R. 4580 (introduced by Representatives Schiff, Honda, Walz and Van Hollen) would bring the collective bargaining rights of RNs at the VA in line with those of other VA clinicians, such as LPNs, nursing assistants, and nursing unit clerks. These bills would also give RNs at the VA the same rights that RNs at other agencies are entitled to, such as at the Department of Defense.
Please support S. 1556 and H.R. 4580 to remove the exemptions to Section 7422 of Title 38. It is a matter of basic fairness and patient safety.
And see the letters NNU sent to congress about working conditions at VA facilities
Specialty Care Is A Challenge In Some ACA Plans
“Narrow networks” keep the price of some Obamacare insurance plans low, but they also keep certain hospitals and physicians out of reach for sick patients
RNs at Leominster Hospital file Unfair Labor Practice Charge Over Staffing Changes
Management’s Refusal to Provide Key Material to Nurses’ Union About its Plan to Merge Services and Cut Staff Leads to Charge
Leominster, Mass. &mda…
Massachusetts Nurses Association Statement Opposing the Layoffs and Reorganizations of Nursing Care by UMass Memorial Health Care at Health Alliance Leominster Hospital
Proposed Staffing Cuts and Planned Increase in Nurses’ Patient Assignments Will Degrade the Quality and Safety of Patient Care at Leominster Hospital for …
Insta Travel Instagram Contest for Travel Nurses
Snap it. Post it. Hashtag it. And you could win a year subscription to Amazon Prime!
Trivia Question: Who are three great photographers?
Answer: Ansel Adams, Annie Leibowitz, and … YOU!
Many Travel Nurses are major shutterbugs. And who can blame them? With all that time spent in new, exciting locations you are bound to see all kinds of picture-worthy sights.
A new contest hosted by pet friendly Travel Nurse agency, Medical Solutions, allows you the chance to share your epic snapshots, and you might even win a prize for your efforts.
All you have to do to enter is snap a picture on Instagram and post it with the hashtag #medicalsolutions — it’s super simple and you can enter as many times as you like. You can share photos of majestic sunsets, lazy days at the beach, trips to your new favorite restaurant, your animals, your new friends — anything you want.
Three lucky Travelers will each win a one-year subscription to Amazon Prime, which nets you access to thousands of books and music titles, as well as thousands of movies and TV shows you can stream instantly, plus free two-day shipping on Amazon Prime items.
Click here to learn more about the Insta Travel Instagram Contest for Travel Nurses.
And, happy picture-taking, everyone! It should be super fun to see what develops.
Seattle Providers Mostly Keep Up With More Insured, But Worries Loom
With thousands more people newly insured under the Affordable Care Act in Washington, medical providers have been braced to deal with more patients. So far — in the Seattle area, at least — they appear to be keeping up with the influx. But that doesn’t mean the concern has abated.
Katie Couric Celebrates Nurses
Tune in on July 16th as Katie Couric celebrates nurses on her show, “Katie.”
Whatever time zone you’re currently in, you should definitely tune in to today’s “Katie” on ABC, as host Katie Couric celebrates nurses, with a show themed “Celebrating Nurses.”
“Katie” is a topical daytime talk show hosted by award-winning journalist and television personality Katie Couric.
According to the show’s website, on July 16th, “Katie salutes nurses across the country. Meet the heroes who heal us, inspire us, and save our lives.”
The episode is expected to feature Carolyn Jones, director of The American Nurse, as well as several nurses featured in that film and an expert on modern healthcare and nursing. It was reportedly filmed two months ahead of its air date.
The show’s tagline is “Talk That Matters,” and that is so true in the case of recognizing and celebrating all of the hard work, sacrifice, compassion, and dedication displayed by nurses like you every single day. What you do as a nurse matters to so many people, and it’s pretty cool to see that recognized on national television.
“It was a team that got me better, but the nurse got me through it,” says one of the featured guests in the preview video (check it out below!).
If you can’t tune in today as Katie Couric celebrates nurses, visit katiecouric.com to watch later.
California Releases Proposal For Clearing Medicaid Backlog
As the federal government demands more accountability, other states are working on plans to fix delays and glitches in their systems as well.
Senate Democrats Launch Fight To Reverse Supreme Court, State Abortion Restrictions
But the bill that would reverse the Hobby Lobby court ruling is not expected to pass a crucial voting test Wednesday.