More than 120 nurses at Hutchinson Health, part of the HealthPartners system, have announced their intent to join the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), filing for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. Together, they’re building the collective power to advocate for their patients, strengthen the nursing profession and ensure frontline nurses help shape the decisions that affect patient care.
Nurses know the best decisions are made when the people providing care have a real voice in their practice and stand together to advocate for the staffing, support, and resources their patients and community deserve.
“Nurses are coming together as a union because our patients deserve the best care possible,” said Sarah Henschke, RN at Hutchinson Health. “A union gives nurses at Hutchinson the voice to stand up for what we need to keep our patients safe and ensure nurses feel supported. We want to continue serving our community locally instead of being told to simply ‘make it work’. We’re organizing so we can advocate for a safer care environment for our patients and a safer workplace for our nurses.”
Nurses organized because lasting improvements only happen when frontline caregivers have the power to influence the decisions that affect their patients and their practice. They believe that when nurses have a seat at the table, hospitals are better equipped to recruit and retain experienced nurses, respond to the challenges facing healthcare and provide the highest quality care.
“I’m proud to be part of a union of nurses working to strengthen our profession and improve patient safety,” said Steph Jandl, RN at Hutchinson Health. “With nurses standing together to advocate for our patients, I’m more encouraged than ever that we can make a real difference in the health of our small community. Our patients are our family members, friends, and neighbors—we’re organizing to make sure they receive the best care possible.”
By joining MNA, Hutchinson Health nurses will join more than 22,000 nurses and healthcare workers who understand that real change happens when workers stand together. Through their collective voice and power, MNA members advocate for safe patient care, stronger workplaces, and healthcare that puts patients first.
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