Organizing (Page 5)

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Legislative Policy, National Nurses United, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics, Unsafe Staffing

NOTES ON NURSING


MNA Legislative Meet & Greet in Alexandria an Eye-Opener for Elected Officials

30 nurses from Bemidji, Alexandria, and Fergus Falls gathered on Nov. 20 for a “Meet and Greet” with local legislators and a continuing education session on nurse advocacy.
MNA Nursing Practice Specialist Carol Deimert and MNA President Linda Hamilton presented on the Main Street Contract and the history of advocacy in nursing, “Nurses have a long history of being leaders in advocating for women’s rights, civil rights, and improvements to our healthcare system,” explained Deimert.
After the presentation, Rep. Paul Anderson (GOP- Starbuck) and Rep.-Elect (Ben Lein DFL-Moorhead) came to meet nurses and discuss some of the nursing issues the legislature may be addressing this session.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 28, 2012: MNA RNs in west central MN step up push for safe staffing; NY nurses leave ANA  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

LABOR UPDATES

Dayton Urges Union Members to Fight for Better Pay   DFL Gov. Mark Dayton told several hundred janitors, security officers, airport service workers and retail cleaners on Saturday that they won’t get the wages they deserve unless they negotiate for it.

HEALTH CARE

Why Health Care Costs Trillions Less in Canada    Between 1980 and 2009, Medicare  spending per beneficiary in the U.S. rose from $1,215 to $9,446, which was a  198% increase after adjusting for inflation. But in Canada, comparable spending  rose from $2,141 to $9,292, or an inflation-adjusted rate of 73%. Think of it  this way: for every $10 spent on services in the U.S., Canada spent $3.36.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 19, 2012: Hospital racket slows recovery; O! Canada for economical, great health care  »

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In: Activism, Health Care Reform, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING


MNA members are gathering at the headquarters office for a 3-day leadership skills tune up.   Read what Joe Howard said about his recent experience at an earlier training.

U.S. Rate of Premature Births Still at a “C;” Ranked with Somalia, Thailand and Turkey     The United States is slowly reducing its rate of premature births, bringing the rate to 11.7 percent in 2011, but the figure is still higher than public health advocates believe it should be.

Many Hospital Patients Receive Too Much Acetaminophen    Acetaminophen – sold as Tylenol – is a common painkiller on its own, but also an ingredient in stronger narcotics such as Percocet and Vicodin.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 14, 2012: Too much Tylenol?; $10M tax break to hospitals  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Mine Patient Data for Self-Promotion   You might not know it when you seek care from some of central Ohio’s hospital systems, but your health information makes you a potential marketing target.

NOTES ON NURSING

Patients Shy About Requesting Providers Wash Hands   Only 64 percent and 54 percent of patients indicated that they would feel comfortable asking nurses or physicians to wash their hands, respectively. Still fewer patients (14 percent) reported having ever asked a healthcare worker to wash their hands.

LABOR NEWS

WalMart Workers Organize Action for Black Friday   Walmart workers are trying to organize a single massive strike on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving, and the “official” start of Christmas shopping season).
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 13, 2012: Hospitals mine data for self-promotion  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

NOTES ON NURSING

Rep. Erin Murphy Is New House Majority Leader   House Democrats have elected former MNA Executive Director, Erin Murphy as House Majority Leader.

Hurricane Sandy Update   Aid to victims of hurricane Sandy is still very much needed.  The AFL-CIO is coordinating with United Way to raise funds to help families devastated by the disaster.  Here’s the link to help.

LABOR NEWS

NY Subway Repairs Border on “the Edge of Magic”    Workers traversed darkened, slippery tunnels, inspecting sludgy tracks, equipment and third rails. Even the subway map itself was reimagined, as bright lines were faded to represent downed service.
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 9, 2012: Congrats Rep. Erin Murphy  »

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

HEALTH CARE

Hospitals Gamble on Urgent Care To Keep Patients Healthy  When Stephen Wheeler realized he had an aching, swollen finger, he called his primary care doctor, who works for MedStar Health. The doctor referred him to PromptCare, an urgent care clinic owned by the same hospital chain and located in a strip mall in the Baltimore suburbs.

Obama’s Health Care Law Turns into a Sprint 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 8, 2012:  »

Its place assured alongside Medicare and Medicaid, President Barack Obama’s health care law is now in a sprint to the finish line, with just 11 months to go before millions of uninsured people can start signing up for coverage. 

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Labor Unions, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

LABOR NEWS

Election Results are a Victory For All Families   AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the Obama win moves nation on a “path of sanity and shared prosperity.”

After Winning Back Legislature, Dems Take Care Not to “Overstep.”    Spending the last two years in the minority has been a sobering experience for DFLers. But it’s also been educational. They’ve seen what happens when a majority party jams things like marriage and voting amendments onto the ballo without bipartisan support.

HEALTH CARE

Affordable Health Care Act Survives – Barely   Preserving the ACA was not a case of America putting its best foot forward. 
… Read more about: MNA Daily NewsScan, November 7, 2012: Elections Reflections; Long shifts=RN burnout  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Labor Unions, Organizing

[youtube=http://youtu.be/YWRsu6TN2gg]

 

Dressed as mindless zombies, nurses took to Main Street in Bagley on Halloween to call attention to Sanford hospital management proposals that they said are “scary” when it comes to protecting patient safety.

“In an unprecedented move, Sanford management came in and threw out a union contract that had been in place for decades,” said Rachel Lewis, an LPN at Sanford Bagley Medical Center. “This contract existed for a reason – it kept our patients safe and gave nurses a voice in the workplace. Our nurses are also being forced to work 14-to-16 hour shifts at times because management isn’t providing us with the ancillary staff needed for non-patient care duties.”

Represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, a group of 30 Bagley LPNs and RNs have been bargaining with Sanford officials since April 2012 regarding a new labor contract.
… Read more about: Video Recap: Bagley Nurses Halloween Action  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Organizing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Sara Dorner, MNA, 651-260-4864 cell or sara.dorner@mnnurses.org

“Zombie” Nurses hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley

BAGLEY, Minnesota (October 29, 2102) – Dressed as mindless zombies, nurses will take to Main Street in Bagley from 12-4 pm on Halloween to call attention to Sanford hospital management proposals that they say are “scary” when it comes to protecting patient safety.

“In an unprecedented move, Sanford management came in and threw out a union contract that had been in place for decades,” said Rachel Lewis, an LPN at Sanford Bagley Medical Center.
… Read more about: Press Release: “Zombie” Nurses to hold Halloween Event on “The Sanford Scare” in Bagley  »

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In: Activism, Healthcare, Nurses, Nursing, Organizing, Politics

Nursing issues are at stake in this election.  With a nurse-friendly legislature we can:

  • Advance MNA’s Safe Staffing bill
  • Stop the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact from bringing down Minnesota’s nursing standards
  • Protect Workers’ Rights

Many MNA-endorsed candidates are in close races and help from nurses could put them over the top. 
MNA’s 2012 Legislative Scorecard offers insight into voting records on nursing issues of candidates who served in last year’s legislature and are running for re-election.     

Get out your calendar and block out time to: