Minnesota Nurses Association (Page 22)

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In: Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

While some people’s eyes glaze over when they hear the word, “sequestration,” on the news, the effects of the “S” word are sure to hit every state if ignored.

What is it?  It’s a series of automatic cuts-called the sequester- that will take effect unless Congress acts by March 1.  The Obama Administration has presented a state-by-state analysis of what these cuts mean to middle class jobs, children, seniors, the sick, and those men and women in uniform.

Impacts for healthcare this year include:

$507,000 lost to Minnesota to respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and catastrophic events.
… Read more about: I keep hearing about this sequestration thing…  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

Do you believe it’s time for the state budget to improve the lives of middle class families? Should the wealthiest Minnesotans pay their fair share? Should we invest in our state’s most important priorities? Governor Dayton’s budget proposal <http://www.mn.gov/governor/budget/>  achieves those goals, while fixing our state’s structural deficit and making government more efficient. It’s an honest budget without gimmicks.
The House Tax Committee will be hearing the Governor’s budget proposal <http://www.mn.gov/governor/budget/>  tomorrow night. It’s important for supporters of Governor Dayton’s proposal to attend the hearing.
What:  House Tax Committee hearing of Governor Dayton’s budget proposal
When:  Wednesday, February 27th
Time:  7:00 PM
Where:  Room 10, State Office Building, 100 Rev.
… Read more about: Governor Dayton Budget hearing Wednesday night  »

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In: Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

NOTES ON NURSING

Local Nurses Say Hospitals “Skirting the Law”

Area nurses and healthcare advocates met in Worcester with the Health Policy Commission on Friday to fight against mandatory overtime practices being used at local hospitals to skirt the issue of poor staffing.  “You cannot allow this to continue,” said Colleen Wolfe, RN at UMass Memorial in her testimony to the commission. “Our patients are suffering every day from deplorable care resulting from understaffing of this hospital, and staff is being forced to practice while exhausted…”

LABOR UPDATES

Twin Cities Security Workers/Cleaners Prepare for Strike   “This is the first time in the U.S.
… Read more about: MNA NewsScan, February 25, 2013: Nurses say hospitals use overtime to cover poor staffing  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

Standards of Care Act passes first committee

On Thursday, nurses packed the room for the first hearing of the Standards of Care Act, MNA’s legislation to establish standards for safe care for every Minnesota patient.

The bill was heard in the House Labor, Workplace and Regulated Industries Committee. Testifiers in favor were MNA President Linda Hamilton, Joe Howard, and MNA nurse from Essentia Miller-Dwan in Duluth and Naomi Freyholz a nurse from Sleepy Eye Medical Center. (The nurses at Sleepy Eye voted on Wednesday to join MNA. They chose to organize because of chronic unsafe staffing and retaliation against nurses who voice their concerns.) The hospital testifiers were the President of the Minnesota Hospital Association Lawrence Massa; Carolyn Wilson, President of University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview; Sandra McCarthy, CNO for Essentia Health; Roger Lloyd, Nursing Manager at Essentia Health in Duluth; and Mary Pynn, HealthEast Vice President and Chief Nursing Quality Officer.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update, February 22, 2013  »

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In: Hospitals, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 MNA-NNU-spot-logo-for-Blog

LAWMAKERS AGREE PATIENTS NEED STANDARDS OF CARE

Standards of Care Act passes House Committee

(St Paul) – February 21, 2013- The Standards of Care Act passed the Minnesota Labor, Workplace and Regulated Industries Committee, moving the bill that sets staffing levels for hospitals to ensure safe patient care.  The bill was introduced to the Committee by House Author, Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights)

Committee members heard from bedside nurses from Minneapolis, Sleepy Eye, and Duluth about the struggle to provide good care for patients when they’re understaffed.
… Read more about: Press Release-Lawmakers Agree patients need Standards of Care  »

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Minnesota Representative Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) and Senator Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) stick up for nurses and counter the St Paul Pioneer Press editorial against the Standards of Care Act.

Link to article:

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_22631041/taking-exception-safe-nurse-patient-staffing-saves-lives
… Read more about: Lawmakers counter PiPress editorial against Standards of Care  »

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In: Activism, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

NOTES ON NURSING
… Read more about: MNA NewsScan, February 20, 2013: Sleepy Eye Nurses Join MNA  »

Sleepy Eye Nurses Vote For Union Representation with Minnesota Nurses Association24 registered and licensed practical nurses at Sleepy Eye Medical Center have the power of 20,000 additional voices at their workplace with today’s decision to join the Minnesota Nurses Association.  Leaders are confident the move will lead to better and safer care for patients of the critical access hospital located in south central Minnesota.  “With a contract behind us, we can better advocate for our patients,” said Naomi Freyholtz, RN.
Nurses were stirred to organize in part because skilled colleagues have been exiting the facility due to frustration with management practices regarding scheduling and staffing. 

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing, Patient Safety, Politics, Unsafe Staffing

photoMedia all over the state is signaling that MNA has the momentum to achieve a momentous breakthrough for patients in our state. When MNA and legislators Sen. Jeff Hayden and Rep. Joe Atkins announced the introduction of the Standards of Care Act, here’s what WCCO wrote: “the staffing proposal has a strong shot.”
Let’s keep the energy going, nurses. Let’s get Standards of Care in every facility, on every shift, for every patient. The following links should give you goose bumps, and we hope they inspire you to stay active in this campaign.
… Read more about: MNA Launches Standards of Care Campaign  »