MNA Blog (Page 19)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

On:
In: Elections, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – April 22, 2022 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced their first four endorsements of the 2022 election cycle for candidates in open races for the Minnesota Legislature. MNA endorsements follow screening interviews and recommendations of member nurses based on candidates’ pledged support for MNA priority issues. All endorsed candidates have affirmed their commitment to support the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act; oppose the Outsourcing Care Compact; and defend workers’ collective bargaining rights and oppose so-called “right-to-work” laws.
… Read more about: MNA Nurses Announce First Endorsements of 2022 Election  »

On:
In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing

Written by Mary Kirsling, Retired RN from Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Duluth, Member of Honors & Awards Committee

I have been a member of the MNA Honors and Awards Committee for several years. While I have served on many committees, this is my favorite. We have the privilege of learning about nurses who excel–individuals who mentor, inspire, encourage, lead, educate, and innovate. As a previous recipient, I cannot overstate how thrilling it is and how much it means to receive one of these awards. Most recipients are unaware of the difference they make and recognition from peers is one of the best honors to receive.
… Read more about: Nominate someone to be honored by MNA  »

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In: Home, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig(o) 651-414-2863(c) 612-741-0662sam.fettig@mnnurses.orgLauren Nielsen(o) 651-414-2862(c) 651-376-9709lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(Marshall, MN) – April 15, 2022 – Nurses at Avera Regional Medical Center in Marshall will hold an informational picket outside the facility on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, to inform the public of the need for Avera executives to put patients before profits to address the understaffing and retention issues at the hospital and to prioritize safe and high-quality patient care. The picket comes as nurses at the facility represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association bargain for a fair new contract with the health system.
… Read more about: Marshall nurses to picket on need to put patients before profits at Avera Medical Center  »

On:
In: Home, Legislative Policy, Nurse Staffing, Nurses Shortage, Press Releases, Unsafe Staffing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Act to retain nurses and protect patient care included in omnibus released today, bringing it closer to vote in the Minnesota House

(St. Paul) – April 6, 2022 – Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association applauded the inclusion of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act in the Minnesota House Health Omnibus Bill released today (sec. 27, line 38.12). The act would address the short-staffing and retention crisis to protect patient care in Minnesota by establishing local, flexible, hospital-based committees of nurses and managers who would work together to set staffing levels on a unit-by-unit basis, including a limit on the number of patients for which any one nurse is responsible.
… Read more about: Nurses applaud inclusion of Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act in House Health Omnibus Bill  »

On:
In: Home, Issues, Nurse Staffing, Nurses Shortage, Press Releases, Unsafe Staffing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – March 31, 2022 – Minnesota nurses released a new report today – “Why We Left: 2022 Nursing Workforce Report” – which identifies poor hospital management and chronic short staffing as the top issues driving nurses away from bedside care. In a roundtable discussion at the State Capitol today, nurses who retired early or left full-time bedside care positions shared stories of their experiences, including why they left and what it would have taken for them to stay.
… Read more about: Minnesota nurses share ‘Why We Left’ the bedside in new report, call for solutions to staffing and retention crisis  »

On:
In: Healthcare, Hospitals, Nurse Staffing, Nurses, Nurses Shortage, Nursing, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – March 29, 2022 – At 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022, Minnesota nurses will share the results of a new survey analyzing why nearly 750 nurses left bedside care positions within the last two years. Nurses who have retired early or have otherwise been pushed out of bedside care will share their stories and discuss the findings of the new report.

The report – “Why We Left: 2022 Nursing Workforce Report” – was compiled by the Minnesota Nurses Association based on a survey of 748 nurses who left an MNA-represented nursing job in the past two years and did not take a new job in another MNA-represented facility.
… Read more about: ‘Why We Left’ – Minnesota nurses to discuss retention crisis, release new nursing workforce report  »

On:
In: Action, Essentia, Healthcare, Press Releases, Unions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(Duluth) – March 25, 2022 – At 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022, Duluth nurses will be joined by area labor leaders and elected officials to call on Essentia to do right by workers at their new outpatient surgical center at Miller Hill Health Plaza.  

At the event, Duluth nurses will share their concerns about the effect of Essentia’s corporate healthcare policies on employees and patient care as the health system prepares to open the new surgical facility.
… Read more about: Duluth nurses, elected officials, labor leaders to call on Essentia to do right by workers at new facility  »

On:
In: Action, Home, Nurse Staffing, Patient Safety, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(o) 651-414-2862
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

MNA nurses delivered opening offers to hospital executives this week, seeking to retain nurses and prioritize quality care at the bedside

Nurses are donning buttons and stickers this week announcing “We Are Ready” to fight to put patients before the profits of hospital CEOs

MNA also launches new paid digital advertising campaign highlighting the crisis patients and staff are facing in Minnesota hospitals 

(St.
… Read more about: Over 15,000 nurses launch new campaign for Patients, Not Profits in Minnesota hospitals  »

On:
In: Home, Issues, Mary Turner, Nursing

This weekend marks the second anniversary of our peacetime emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years, we have lost over 12,000 Minnesotans and over 6 million worldwide. Among those lost are family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and other loved ones. Among those lost are some of our own—nurses and healthcare professionals.

We have suffered through the unthinkable. We have dealt with inadequate PPE, unsafe staffing levels, moral injury, and lip-service from those who have the power to solve these problems. But through it all, we’ve continued to do what we’ve always done—care for our patients.

We are tired and we are heartbroken, yes.
… Read more about: Statement from MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN on the Second Anniversary of the MN Peacetime Emergency for the COVID-19 Pandemic  »

On:
In: Action, Education, Labor Unions, Unions

Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) Teachers and Education Support Professionals in the Minneapolis Public Schools are on strike for safe and stable schools. This is the first strike in 50 years in this district.

Their fight parallels what nurses and other healthcare workers are experiencing. Top-down, corporatized control of schools and teaching is hurting students and driving families out of the district, so MFT members are demanding: