Healthcare (Page 28)

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Politics

Have you or a family member ever had the unfortunate experience of suffering from a pressure ulcer? In addition to being extremely unpleasant and painful, pressure ulcers can become so deep that they result in damage to your muscles, bones, tendons and joints.

And pressure ulcers – also commonly known as bedsores – are almost always preventable when proper staffing levels are adhered to.

Yet last week’s release of Minnesota’s Eighth Annual Adverse Events Report noted that incidents involving pressure ulcers spiked more than 19 percent statewide in 2011. What state hospital executives didn’t mention in spinning away that alarming statistic was that numerous national studies have shown a direct correlation between inadequate nurse staffing levels and an increase in conditions including pressure ulcers, pneumonia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, shock/cardiac arrest, urinary tract infections and more.
… Read more about: MNA President Linda Hamilton’s Response to Minnesota Adverse Events Report’s Release  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Politics

Imagine how drastically your nursing practice would change for the worse if your patients’ caregivers or family members were allowed to give them medications in the hospital? That is just one of many recent changes proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as conditions of participation.

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In: Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (October 14, 2011) – The Minnesota Nurses Association will usher in an action-packed week of organizational changes, nursing practice advocacy and visits from high-profile guests including Gov. Mark Dayton at its annual convention Oct. 16-19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul.

Hundreds of nurses from across the state will gather to swear in a newly-elected MNA President and Board of Directors, debate resolutions related to RN safety in the workplace and publicly advocate for a Financial Transaction Tax on Wall Street as part of National Nurses United’s “Main Street Contract for America.”

“Nurses make a difference because we see things differently,” MNA President Linda Hamilton said.
… Read more about: Press Release: Action-packed MNA Convention kicks off Oct. 16th  »

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In: Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses

A New York Times writer is doing a Sunday business feature on Hospitals using the Toyota “Lean” model and stumbled across the MNA-created YouTube video below. So now MN Nurses are going to have a national voice in the story speaking out about unsafe staffing and hospitals putting profits ahead of patients. Like we said, our fight for safe staffing is just beginning!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbPOO1hNX10]
… Read more about: Toyota Lean, Hospitals, The New York Times, MNA and YouTube  »

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In: Healthcare, Hospitals

Just came across an interesting read from MedCity News on the financial missteps several Twin Cities Hospitals took during the recession of 2008-09 – specifically in terms of trying to expand too fast, borrowing big money and gambling (and losing) in the stock market. Not exactly the picture of financial restraint and prudence one might expect from non-profit entities charged with ensuring their customers’ health and well-being comes first and foremost. What do you think? (Click here to read the story.)
… Read more about: Twin Cities Hospitals & The Great Recession: Fiscal Restraint Goes AWOL  »