MNA Blog (Page 60)

Recent news and updates from the Minnesota Nurses Association.

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In: Home, Insurance, Issues

rickportrait

By Rick Fuentes,  MNA  Communications Specialist

It was no surprise to hear Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders declare his support for Single Payer healthcare during last weekend’s Presidential debate.  Sanders has long been a proponent of a system that creates “Medicare for All.”  That model would cover everyone in the country through a publicly funded agency that paid for services to every provider in the country.  After all, Sanders’ home state of Vermont adopted a Single Payer system that covered almost everyone in 2011.  Green Mountain Care, as it’s called, was due to be fully implemented by 2017 (it’s since been put on hold indefinitely).
… Read more about: Single Payer Healthcare Becoming Big Part of Debate  »

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In: Home, Press Releases

January 15, 2016

(St. Paul) – January 15, 2016 – Twin Cities nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association agreed to terms of a new three-year contract with five of the six hospital systems.  Nurses will vote to ratify the tentative agreement on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  The MNA negotiations team is recommending nurses ratify the agreement.

The new contract begins June 1, 2016 and covers 6,000 nurses at Fairview Southdale and Riverside facilities, Children’s Minneapolis and St. Paul hospitals, Methodist, North Memorial Medical Center, and HealthEast’s Bethesda, St. Joeseph’s, and St. John’s hospitals.  Current benefits, including health coverage and pensions, would carry over to the new contract.
… Read more about: Press Release: Nurses, Hospitals Reach Tentative Agreement on New Three Year Contract  »

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In: Nurses, Nursing

Nurse Talking To PatientOnce again, Americans have rated nurses as the most trusted profession in the country,  according to a Gallup poll released December 21.

Nurses have been first in the annual Honesty and Ethics Ranking every year since 2005.

“With an 85 percent honesty and ethics rating – tying their high point – nurses have no serious competition atop the Gallup ranking this year,” according to the national polling firm.

“Minnesota nurses are proud of the trust the public places in us,” said Minnesota Nurses Association President Linda Hamilton. “People know that we are dedicated professionals who fight to make sure all patients receive the quality care they deserve.”

Here are the top five most trusted professions:

  1. Nurses
  2. Pharmacists
  3. Medical doctors
  4. High school teachers
  5. Police officers.

    6. … Read more about: Nurses once again ranked the most trusted and ethical profession in the U.S.  »

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In: Press Releases

Dec.10, 2015

Thief River Falls – The TRF Food Shelf will be able to help more people this holiday season, thanks to donations raised by nurse members of the Minnesota Nurses Association in Thief River Falls at their Souper Cookoff on December 5.

Dozens of people, including Congressman Collin Peterson, gathered at the GrandStay Hotel to enjoy and judge the 13 soup and chili entries in the cookoff – and support the TRF Food Shelf.

The event raised $160.80 and 50 pounds of food for the TRF Food Shelf.

“We know this is a difficult time of year for many in our community,” said Sheri Schoon, a nurse at Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center.
… Read more about: News Release: Thief River Falls RNs donate food and money to food shelf  »

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In: Press Releases

December 2, 2015

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota Nurses Association members have elected Mary Turner, RN, as their new president.

Turner is an ICU nurse at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.

“Congratulations to Mary Turner, other officers, Board of Directors and other leaders who were elected,” said current MNA President Linda Hamilton, who chose not to run for another term. “MNA will continue to be a strong and vibrant union under their leadership.”

In addition to Turner, the following officers were elected:

First Vice-President: Bernadine (Bunny) Engeldorf
Second Vice-President: Deb Haugen
Secretary: Jennifer Michelson
Treasurer: Judy Russell-Martin

The new officers, Board of Directors, and other elected leaders take office January 1, 2016.
… Read more about: Mary Turner elected MNA President  »

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In: Nurse licensure, Uncategorized

Mat Keller headshot

By Mathew Keller RN JD, Regulatory and Policy Nursing Specialist

In a cost-saving move, when certain units at a Minnesota hospital are short staffed, managers are asking nurses to allow Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) to chart under the RN’s license.  This allows UAPs to care for patients autonomously without supervision and oversight from RNs.

Needless to say, this practice is incredibly dangerous for many reasons, three of which we will highlight here.

  1. UAPs simply do not have the training or expertise to independently care for patients without proper RN supervision (and chart accordingly).

    2. … Read more about: Say ‘no’ to UAP charting requests  »

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In: Hospitals, Minnesota Nurses Association

Mat Keller headshot

By Mathew Keller RN JD, Regulatory and Policy Nursing Specialist

In yet another sign that Minnesota Hospitals are using the myth of a Minnesota “nursing shortage” in order to avoid appropriate nurse staffing, the Star Tribune recently reported that our 10 largest hospital systems “saw operating income jump by 38 percent in fiscal 2014 compared with the previous year.”

These healthcare systems reported sparking income growth by “putting the brakes on hiring.”

In particular, North Memorial Medical Center saw its highest net profit margin since 2006 (and yet is currently laying off RNs); the Mayo system reported a 1 percent decline in salary and benefit costs while experiencing a 36 percent increase in revenue (complaining of a nursing shortage and cutting pensions the whole time); Sanford reported eliminating positions through attrition (while also reportedly purposefully staffing 10 percent under grid in order to cut costs); and HCMC, a 472-bed facility, added the equivalent of only 38 full-time positions.
… Read more about: Minnesota hospitals’ income soars  »

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In: Home, Issues, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nursing, Patient Safety

Mat Keller headshot

By Mathew Keller RN JD, Regulatory and Policy Nursing Specialist

 

“If you don’t stay and work extra, who will take the admission that’s coming?  There’s no one else.”

Sound familiar?

If you’ve been told by your nurse manager that you must work “mandatory” overtime, don’t buy it!  Under Minnesota state law, nurses cannot be disciplined for refusing overtime if, in the nurse’s judgment, it would be unsafe for the patient.

Study after study show that unplanned overtime assignments have a high potential to be unsafe.
… Read more about: Mandatory overtime: just say no  »

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In: Elections, Minnesota Nurses Association

National Nurses United this week endorsed the U.S. Presidential candidate who agrees with nurses’ values and is an ardent advocate for issues important to the nursing profession, like expanding Medicare, the Robin Hood Tax to ensure Wall Street pays its fair share, and proper safety and protections from infectious diseases for nurses and patients.

National Nurses United announced on August 10 the endorsement of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for President at a “Conversation with Bernie” at NNU’s national offices in California.  Hundreds of RNs cheered Sanders on at the California event, and thousands more watched on live stream at 34 watch parties in 14 states, including Minnesota.
… Read more about: National Nurses United endorses Bernie Sanders for President  »