Minnesota Nurses Association (Page 6)

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RNs at Sanford Bemidji Clinic ratified their first contract in February after being officially recognized as part of MNA last October.

RNs say they’re happy to have a contract that protects patients and nurses alike.

“We’re excited about having a contract that protects our rights and ensures we’re all treated fairly,” said negotiating team member Christine Sheikholeslami.

“The new contract creates a wage scale, so raises are allocated fairly and consistently,” said member Tina Hawver.

Previously, managers gave raises arbitrarily.

The contract raises wages for all members, creates security in scheduling, and provides all other contract language to the Clinic RNs that hospital employees receive, such as more affordable health insurance and a cap on mandatory low-census days.
… Read more about: Bemidji Clinic RNs say yes to new contract  »

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In: Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association

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Workplace Violence Prevention bill on the move

The bill to prevent violence against healthcare workers (HF1087-Atkins/SF1071-Wiger) continues to make progress in both the House and Senate, with bipartisan support. The bill will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services and Housing Committee on Wednesday, March 11 at noon. Please attend if you are able!

What:   Violence Against Health Care Workers Bill hearing
                When:  Wednesday, March 11, noon
                Where: Room 15, Capitol

The high profile incident last year at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood received lots of press, and along with the introduction of this bill, has raised awareness about the serious problem of violence in the health care setting.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update, March 6, 2015  »

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Dealing with discharged patients continues to be one of the most confounding problems with hospital care. Nurses often don’t have the time to give patients all the education they need when they leave the hospital. The result: many go home confused, unable to care for themselves, and unsure how to get better.

 

Rep. Tara Mack (R- Apple Valley) Community EMT bill (HF261) enables EMTs to visit discharged patients the day after they get home, but the bill doesn’t actually specify what CEMTs can and can’t do.   The result could be agencies that allow CEMTs’ work to infringe on what nurses are specifically trained and prepared to do.
… Read more about: Community EMT proposal must protect public  »

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In: Bargaining, Minnesota Nurses Association

By Sherri Lidholm, Jodi Isaacs, Shannon Wilberg, Ellyn Peterson: Deer River Health Care Center negotiating team

Negotiations with Essentia Health in Deer River started with a “contraband” cake and ended with our members ratifying a contract that improves compensation, stems the tide of RNs leaving for better-paying jobs in nearby hospitals, and strengthens our union solidarity.

Bargaining got off to a bumpy start last September when we served a cake decorated with the MNA logo to passers-by in an area near the hospital lobby to kick off negotiations. Administration asked us to leave and canceled the next day’s negotiating session.
… Read more about: Nurse power pays off in Deer River  »

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In: Activism, Minnesota Nurses Association, Patient Safety Standards, Unsafe Staffing

 

MNA DOH at MNDH web (2)

Inspiring, empowering, and energizing. Those are some of the words MNA members used to describe Day on the Hill 2015.

About 150 RNs from throughout Minnesota stood up for their patients, their profession, and their communities at the February 9-10 event in St. Paul.

Members sat down with their legislators to share their experiences as bedside RNs to show why a Safe Patient Standard and workplace violence prevention legislation are needed. They told their personal stories of instances where patient safety was threatened because of understaffing; and times when they were subjected to workplace violence themselves.
… Read more about: Nurses bring 'passionate commitment' to 2015 Day on the Hill  »

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In response to recent attacks on nurses’ safety and their ability to provide safe, quality care for their patients, MNA members are speaking to legislators about safe patient staffing levels and workplace safety in 2015.

Nurses visited the Capitol January 28 to speak to legislators about the need for a Safe Patient Standard. They told lawmakers that patients are at risk when nurses have too many to care for at one time, and urged legislators to create a standard for nurse staffing that protects patient safety.

Nurses from North Memorial Medical Center “adopted” the day to talk specifically about the serious staffing issues facing the nurses and patients there.
… Read more about: When RNs speak, policymakers listen  »

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Hospitals Blatantly Disregard Minnesota Law

Patients, nurses, healthcare workers, and Minnesota citizens won a hard-fought victory in the 2013 legislative session when Governor Dayton signed into law the Staffing Plan Disclosure Act.  The purpose of the Act was to increase hospital transparency and study the effects of nurse staffing on patient outcomes.  Unfortunately, Minnesota hospitals have all but thumbed their nose at the state law, openly flaunting the demands of legislators and citizens alike.

Minnesota Department of Health Cites Lack of Hospital Cooperation

In order to study nurse staffing under the law, the Minnesota Department of Health convened a workgroup consisting of nurses, hospital administrators, and other key stakeholders.  
… Read more about: Are Minnesota Hospitals Above the Law?  »

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By Mathew Keller, RN JD, MNA Nurse Policy Specialist

We’ve all heard the news about the “nursing crisis” or “nursing shortage,” but imagine my surprise when, after graduating froNursem the University of Minnesota’s BSN program about 10 years ago, my classmates and I had a difficult time finding jobs. In fact, many of my peers were eventually forced to take on travel nursing assignments. Several are still in California, Missouri, and even Hawaii.

We here at MNA take claims of a nursing shortage very seriously. One of our priorities is to advocate for the profession. But, after digging into the numbers, we were surprised by what we found.
… Read more about: Minnesota Nursing Shortage: Fact or Fiction?  »