(Untitled)
2012-02-13
A Great – and important! – point made here about how the media is framing the so-called “Right to Work” issue. Must read!
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Unsafe Staffing Story: I wouldn’t send my own family to the hospital I work at!
2012-02-13
MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)
Today’s Story: I don’t feel patients are being safely monitored on this unit. With all the cardiac, respiratory, fall risk, and incontinence issues that the majority of cardiacpatients have; it’s not safe for one nurse to adequately monitor 6 patients.
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Legislative Update February 10, 2012
2012-02-10
MNA Legislative Update February 10, 2012
Right to Work
Senator Dave Thompson (R-36, Lakeville) and Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-28B, Mazeppa) introduced a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment. To read these bills and follow their progress, visit the bill status pages on the Legislature’s website: Senate File 1705, House File 2140.
This legislation, backed by employers, will weaken unions, cut pay and benefits, and worst of all, will take away nurses’ power to advocate for our patients’ safety and our practice. “Right to Work” doesn’t create any jobs, and workers in Right to Work states actually earn significantly less than workers in collective bargaining states.
… Read more about: Legislative Update February 10, 2012 »
Unsafe Staffing Story: Too Many Babies, Not Enough Nurses
2012-02-10
MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)
Today’s Story: Charge nurse had 3 moms and 2 babies; one requiring constant help with newborn cares and breastfeeding. One staff nurse had 5 moms and 5 babies, including a new Caesarean birth and a new vaginal delivery with significant postpartum hemorrhage.
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Moose Lake’s Mercy RNs Issue Concerns About Merger Negotiations
2012-02-08
Minnesota Nurses Association Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jan Rabbers (612) 860-6658 or jan.rabbers@mnnurses.org
Mercy Hospital (Moose Lake) RNs Issue Concerns About Merger Negotiations
(Moose Lake, MN – February 8, 2012) As Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake moves toward a possible merger with Duluth-based Essentia Health, registered nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association met last week to discuss concerns regarding impact on the community and on the work environment at the hospital.
The meeting highlighted the nurses’ apprehensions about the overall process of merger negotiations, especially noting the lack of advice and involvement of patient care providers, patients, and potential patients.
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Must Read: A Dying Baby, Not Enough Nurses … Hospital Management’s Response? Order Pizza!
2012-02-08
Nurses did not get breaks, although food was ordered by management as a consolation. We want more nurses, not food! Our patients deserve quality care and they are not getting it!
Legislative Update, Feb. 3, 2012
2012-02-03
MNA Legislative Update February 3, 2012
Right to Work Bill Introduced
Yesterday Senator Dave Thompson (R-36, Lakeville) announced he will introduce a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment. This legislation, backed by employers, will weaken unions, cut pay and benefits, and worst of all, will take away nurses’ power to advocate for our patients’ safety and our practice. “Right to Work” doesn’t create any jobs, and workers in Right to Work states actually earn significantly less than workers in collective bargaining states. Learn more about this legislation at the MNA website. While Governor Dayton strongly opposes Right to Work, he does not have the right to veto a constitutional amendment if it passes both houses of the Legislature.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, Feb. 3, 2012 »
Medical Assistance Reimbursement and Community Paramedics
2012-02-03
Legislation to define the Community Paramedic services that are eligible for Medical Assistance reimbursement was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rosen (R-24, Fairmont) as SF 1543 and by Representative Mack (R-37A, Apple Valley) in the House as HF 2060. Here is a link to MNA’s letter in opposition to this bill. mna position community paramedic
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Unsafe Staffing Story: Kids’ ICU Dangerously Thin on RN Staffing
2012-02-01
MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)
Today’s Story: (From a hospital unit dealing exclusively with infants) – Working three nurses short in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is very unsafe.
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Newborn Screening Update for RNs
2012-02-01
Attention, nurses who work in maternal-child health: See this letter (pasted below) from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding storage and use of residual blood spots.
