Armed with new – and disturbing – evidence gathered from the front lines of hospitals across the state, Minnesota nurses introduced legislation today aimed at addressing patient safety through adequate staffing levels.
Bemidji RN Sandra K. Nye wrote an amazing essay – published in her area newspaper – recently on safe staffing levels. Please take a few minutes to read and consider what Sandra points out:
There is an alarming pattern of increased adverse events occurring in hospitals throughout the U.S., which includes medication errors, unnecessary deaths, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections.
A direct relationship exists between the quality of nursing care and amount of time a Registered Nurse spends with each patient. These events are preventable by simply increasing RN numbers each shift. Nurses are the greatest defense for patient safety, so it is vital that safe RN staffing becomes a priority in hospital policy and budget.
… Read more about: RN Essay: The Numbers Don’t Lie – Safe Staffing Saves Lives »
It is critical to separate fact from fiction when evaluating the so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment being proposed during the 2012 legislative session.
Here’s a great illustration of how the amendment could negatively impact Minnesota nurses’ salaries. Take a look:
… Read more about: Right to Work and RN Salaries »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, 651-414-2863
ST. PAUL (February 15, 2012) – As Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State speech Wednesday, the leader of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) echoed her organization’s support for the Governor’s top priorities – jobs, education and reform.
“What our friends, neighbors and patients do need are good-paying jobs, access to affordable healthcare and great education for our children,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN. “What they don’t need is a slew of divisive constitutional amendments that do nothing to address the core needs of Minnesotans across the state.
… Read more about: MNA Statement on Gov. Dayton’s State of the State »
UNITE HERE Local 17 has been in contract negotiations with The Saint Paul Hotel since November 2011. The Hotel has hired a Union busting attorney, John Hauge, and is proposing to take away daily overtime, have workers contribute to their Health Insurance, and impose a 2 tiered wage system, reducing wages by as much as $5.00 per hour, undercutting ALL other Hotel contracts in the Twin Cities Area and lowering the standards of the Hospitality Industry. This is the same Hotel that once wanted to “pay the highest wages and attract the best workers”. The Saint Paul Hotel is a 4 Diamond property and was recently named as the best Hotel in Minnesota.
… Read more about: Please Support our Union brothers and sisters in St. Paul on Feb. 16th! »
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.
… Read more about: Unsafe Staffing Story: I wouldn’t send my own family to the hospital I work at! »
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.
… Read more about: Unsafe Staffing Story: Too Many Babies, Not Enough Nurses »
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!
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.
… Read more about: Unsafe Staffing Story: Kids’ ICU Dangerously Thin on RN Staffing »
MTN/Channel 16 is broadcasting a 30 minute program of State Representative Frank Hornstein being interviewed by Lara Norkus-Crampton, RN regarding the capacity increase proposed for the Downtown Garbage Burner (the HERC) by Covanta and Hennepin County.
Don’t have cable? Livestream @ http://www.livestream.com/mtnstudios16.
(There may be some initial commercial interruption so log in a few minutes before the start of the scheduled time.)
Representative Hornstein has been a staunch opponent to garbage incineration for many years and has played an important role in fighting this increase in the HERC burning capacity from 1000 tons per day to burning 1200 tons of mixed garbage per day.
… Read more about: MNA RN Speaks Out on Community Health Issue »