MNA Blog (Page 5)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

Contact:  Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – September 22, 2023 – On Thursday, an overwhelming majority of Allina’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) voted to be represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association.

“The conditions of our work have become unsustainable, as Allina has left us chronically short-staffed, leading to a high turnover rate. This means we can’t always respond to victims of violence, leaving them to either go to another hospital system or wait hours for a specialized nurse to respond. We want to be there for our patients who need our services, which is why we voted to have a collective voice in our workplace by unionizing with MNA,” said Stephanie Gunderson, an Allina SANE RN.
… Read more about: Allina Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners vote to affiliate with Minnesota Nurses Association  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

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

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

Nurses will speak out on the effects of corporate healthcare policies on patient access to care 

(Rochester) – September 11, 2023 – Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 12, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will turn out and testify at a listening session in Rochester hosted by Attorney General Keith Ellison on aggressive, abusive, and deceptive corporate healthcare billing practices that can compromise access to care for Minnesota patients.

“Hospital executives are driving nurses away from the bedside, pushing Minnesotans into debt and putting patient care at risk with their focus on the bottom line,” said Mary C.
… Read more about: Nurses to turn out and testify at Attorney General listening session on corporate healthcare billing in Rochester  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

Nurse endorsements recognize lawmakers working to solve the crisis of understaffing and retention, hold corporate healthcare executives accountable, and put patients before profits in our hospitals 

(St. Paul) – September 3, 2023 – Ahead of Labor Day, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today announced their first endorsements of candidates for the 2024 election cycle, recognizing MNA Champions in the Minnesota House who are working to solve the crisis of understaffing and retention, hold corporate healthcare executives accountable, and put patients before profits in our hospitals.
… Read more about: Ahead of Labor Day, nurses announce first 2024 endorsements, recognizing champions for nurses and patients in the Minnesota House  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

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

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

Nurses will speak out on the effects of corporate healthcare policies on patient access to care
(St. Paul) – August 22, 2023 – Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 23, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will turn out and testify at a listening session hosted by Attorney General Keith Ellison on aggressive, abusive, and deceptive corporate healthcare billing practices that can compromise access to care for Minnesota patients.

“Hospital executives are driving nurses away from the bedside, pushing Minnesotans into debt and putting patient care at risk with their focus on the bottom line,” said Mary C.
… Read more about: Nurses to turn out and testify at Attorney General listening session on corporate healthcare billing  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lauren Nielsen
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Josh Keller
jkeller@seiumn.org

(Saint Paul) – July 27, 2023 – Today, M Health Fairview and South Dakota-based Sanford Health called off a merger that was announced late last year. Since the merger announcement, Minnesotans working and receiving care at the potentially impacted facilities raised concerns that the merger could increase costs and limit access to health services for patients, threaten jobs and working conditions for workers, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.

The following are statements from leaders of the Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Farmers Union and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa on the dissolution of the planned merger.
… Read more about: Statement on dissolution of planned merger between Sanford Health, M Health Fairview  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – July 27, 2023 – Thursday, Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System announced they have taken the next step in their planned merger. The following is a statement from Minnesota Nurses Association First Vice President Chris Rubesch, RN, at Essentia Health Duluth.

“As always, MNA nurses’ number one priority is providing the highest quality care to our patients and communities.  We will be reviewing the impact this announced merger will have on nurses, our profession, and our patients.
… Read more about: Statement on Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic Health Systems planned merger  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

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

Nurses will gather to make signs at new MNA Duluth office on Tuesday, ahead of Friday picket 

(Duluth) – July 17, 2023 – This Friday, Essentia Health nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) will hold an informational picket outside of the new St. Mary’s Medical Center amid ongoing staffing concerns at the health system. On Tuesday, nurses will gather to make picket signs at the new MNA Duluth office in the Labor Temple. Details on both events are included below.
… Read more about: Essentia nurses to picket new St. Mary’s Medical Center on Friday amid ongoing staffing concerns  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

(St. Paul) – July 13, 2023 – Wednesday, St. Luke’s Hospital announced their intent to merge with Wisconsin-based Aspirus Health. The following is a statement from Larissa Hubbartt and Lorie Olesiak, Minnesota Nurses Association Chairs at St. Luke’s Duluth.

“Since it was founded more than a century ago, St. Luke’s Hospital has been grounded in the community, thanks to the care workers, support staff and other workers who show up every day to give the best care we can to everyone who walks through our doors. 
… Read more about: MNA Statement on Planned Merger of St. Luke’s  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Bill to staff and retain nurses to protect patient care falls to corporate interests; workplace violence protections, study on nurse staffing and retention, and childcare assistance and student loan forgiveness for nurses set to become law    

WATCH: Press conference announcing the “Nurse and Patient Safety Act”

(St. Paul) – May 22, 2023 – As the legislative session comes to an end at midnight, lead authors of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act announced tonight that, due to the exemption demanded by and granted to Mayo Clinic Health System, the bill that previously passed in the Minnesota Senate and House no longer had enough votes to pass.
… Read more about: Statement on Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and Nurse and Patient Safety Act  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

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

Despite Mayo exemption, legislation will protect patient care and retain nurses at more than 90 percent of Minnesota hospitals

Nurses thank Sen. Murphy and Rep. Feist for their leadership, denounce Gov. Walz for siding with corporate bullies over patients and nurses 

  
… Read more about: Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act advances to final legislative vote  »

(St. Paul) – May 20, 2023 – In a conference committee hearing today on the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a bipartisan panel of legislators voted to advance the bill to the Minnesota House and Senate for final approval of the critical legislation to retain direct care registered nurses and provide-high quality care by allowing nurses a voice in determining the appropriate number of patients assigned to each nurse.