Nurse Staffing

By Deb Meyer, RN, MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner

On October 24, I was invited to join a round table with the United States Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter. As an MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner, this was an opportunity to continue in my leadership role and explain how corporatization affects Minnesota communities. It was an awesome experience!

Small business owners, farmers and a variety of other people told their stories. He really listened to everyone. My focus was on the Sanford/Fairview merger and how Worthington Regional Hospital changed after it was bought by Sanford. 
… Read more about: The corporatization of our communities: How nurses can speak out and make change  »

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Amber Smigiel(c) 651-202-0845amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Nurses concerned these efforts will lead to cutting corners on patient care and increased staffing turnover

(St. Paul) – October 19, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed an intent to picket on Thursday, October 26, outside Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and United hospitals. Nurses are speaking out as Allina continues to close services essential to local communities and ignore nurses’ concerns about the outcomes of Allina’s current benchmarking plans.

These profit-driven decisions deny nurses and patients the resources needed to ensure safe staffing and quality patient care at the bedside, betraying Allina’s promise to serve the communities in which they operate as a nonprofit entity.
… Read more about: Nurses at Allina hospitals in the Twin Cities Metro to picket amid concerns about proposed nursing staff reductions and recent closures  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Nielsen(c) 651-376-9709lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.orgAmber Smigiel(c) 651-202-0845amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – September 27, 2023 – Nurses are once again speaking out after the Minnesota Department of Health’s report
… Read more about: Nurses call on MN legislature to act after report of increasing adverse patient events  », released today, details an increasing number of reported adverse health events in Minnesota hospitals. This news comes at a time when at least one major health chain in the metro area is proposing even further reductions to the number of nurses caring for patients.Nurses continue to sound the alarm that there is a crisis of patient care and retention by hospital executives in Minnesota’s hospitals.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses call on Governor Walz, legislators to stand strong against threats to democratic process by corporate health executives

Nurses available at State Capitol sit-in today to speak with members of the press

Today, final day of Nurses Week, local landmarks to be lit red in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth


(St. Paul) – May 12, 2023 – Today, the final day of Nurses Week
… Read more about: On final day of Nurses Week, nurses renew call on Governor Walz, legislators to stand with patients and nurses, not corporate bullies  », nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) are continuing their sit-in at the State Capitol, renewing their call on Governor Tim Walz and legislators to stand with patients and nurses, not corporate bullies attempting to undermine our democracy to defend their profits and power.

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses to stand with Governor Walz, legislators against threats to democratic process by corporate health executives
… Read more about: Nurses to stage sit-in at State Capitol to protect democracy and safe patient care from corporate attacks  »

(St. Paul) – May 9, 2023 – Starting at 12:00 p.m. today, Tuesday May 9, 2023, until safe staffing legislation is secured for all patients at every hospital in Minnesota, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will stage a sit-in at the State Capitol to tell Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders that nurses have their backs as they stand up to corporate bullies.

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses calling for legislation to retain and staff nurses to protect patient care, now under threat by corporate health executives 

(Duluth) – May 8, 2023 – At 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson will join Twin Ports nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) to present a proclamation for “Nurses Week” in the City of Duluth. The mayor’s proclamation recognizes that “professional nurses are indispensable to the safety and quality of care of hospitalized patients” and “retention of our Registered Nurses and continued support for our nursing students are essential to meet the increasingly complex primary and preventive health care needs of Duluth residents.”

Throughout the week, Minnesota landmarks will be lit red, including Enger Tower in Duluth on May 12, the final day of Nurses Week.
… Read more about: Duluth Mayor Emily Larson to present proclamation for “Nurses Week,” Twin Ports nurses call for “Keeping Nurses at the Bedside”  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Bipartisan, compromise Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act designed to protect care for all patients, at every hospital in the state, by retaining and staffing enough skilled nurses

On Friday, reporting revealed Mayo threat to withdraw billions in public investments if “blackmail” demands not met

(St. Paul) – May 8, 2023 – Nurses working for Mayo Clinic Health System today spoke out on conditions for nurses and workers at the corporate health chain to highlight the need for statewide legislation to protect patient care by retaining and staffing enough skilled nurses.
… Read more about: Mayo nurses, legislators denounce corporate threats, affirm need to protect patient care and transparency at all hospitals  »

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

On Friday, reporting revealed Mayo threat to withdraw billions in investments if “blackmail” demands not met 
(St. Paul) – May 7, 2023 – Tomorrow, Monday, May 8, 2023, nurses working for Mayo Clinic Health System will be joined by state legislators to respond to threats by health executives to withdraw billions in investments if their “blackmail” demands
… Read more about: Mayo nurses, legislators to speak out on Mayo threats to patient care and transparency  » are not met to kill legislation to retain nurses and improve staffing to protect patient care. Tomorrow, Mayo nurses will share why this legislation is needed at Mayo Clinic Health System facilities, and legislators – including chief authors Senator Erin Murphy (DFL-St.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Mayo threatens state leaders with billions in withdrawn investments if corporate demands are not met, reporting reveals   

(St. Paul) – May 5, 2023 – Reporting from the Minnesota Reformer today reveals that Mayo Clinic Health System has resorted to blackmail tactics, threatening to withdraw billions in investments from the state if its corporate demands are not met to kill provisions in the Health and Human Services omnibus bill behind closed doors, including the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a bill to retain and staff nurses to protect patient care.
… Read more about: Statement on Mayo Blackmail Tactics to Kill Bill to Protect Patients and Retain Nurses  »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sam Fettig
(c) 612-741-0662
sam.fettig@mnnurses.org
Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Report comes as Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a bill to retain and staff nurses to protect patient care, is taken up in conference committee with Health Omnibus bill   

PRESS CONFERENCE: Click here to watch video of the press conference releasing the new report

(St. Paul) – May 4, 2022 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) today shared the results of an annual report on Concern for Safe Staffing (CFSS) forms which paint a bleak picture of the crisis of understaffing by hospital executives in Minnesota healthcare facilities.
… Read more about: New report details widespread understaffing in Minnesota hospitals, putting patient care at risk    »