Each political party in Minnesota operates differently in terms of how issues end up on their respective party platforms; if your political party has an issue or legislative platform, below are three resolutions that MNA is working on legislatively at both the State Capitol and Congress, three important issues that will improve the lives of patients and the nursing profession. We encourage you to not only submit these resolutions at your precinct caucuses for consideration on your party platform but talk to those participating in caucuses about the importance of these issues to nurses working at the bedside today.
Safe Staffing
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare long-standing issues of inadequate nurse staffing that exist in Minnesota hospitals and health systems;
WHEREAS, in Minnesota, there are no standards for the number of patients a Registered Nurse can be assigned to care for at one time; and
WHEREAS, dozens of peer-reviewed academic studies show that nurse staffing affects patient outcomes; falls, infections, pressure ulcers, and even deaths increase the more patients a nurse is assigned; and
WHEREAS, keeping Registered Nurses at the bedside is the most reliable and cost-effective way to ensure high-quality care that protects both patients and staff.
Be it Resolved that the (INSERT YOUR PARTY NAME) party of Minnesota supports the Keep Nurses at the Bedside Act legislation that sets a maximum number of patients that a Registered Nurse can take care of at one time; and provides mental health and professional development resources that will Minnesota keep nurses working at the bedside.
Anti-Corporatization of Health Care
WHEREAS, Minnesotans should have access to safe care regardless of race, income, or neighborhood;
WHEREAS, Minnesota deserves a healthcare system that puts the health of people and the dignity of workers before the financial interests of hospitals, hospital executives, and healthcare corporations;
WHEREAS large hospital systems take over community hospitals, and the bottom-line drives decision making, leaving too many without access;
WHEREAS Minnesota has seen reductions in access to care through the closing of hospitals and units in both rural and urban areas due to lack of profit while overall hospital systems and health insurance companies make record profits; and executives make exorbitant salaries;
Be it Resolved That the (INSERT YOUR PARTY NAME) party of Minnesota supports preventing the further corporatization of healthcare through legislation that holds non-profit healthcare organizations accountable to their mission and defined legislative purpose of providing a community benefit to the public and creates a stronger healthcare regulatory system that provides financial and geographic access to quality healthcare services based on community need and not profit.
Single Payer
WHEREAS, The Affordable Care Act was a first step forward toward universal, affordable healthcare, it still leaves millions uninsured and millions more underinsured and struggling with medical bills;
WHEREAS, recent attempts to “Repeal and Replace” the Affordable Care Act would take healthcare coverage away from millions, threaten the vulnerable patients who rely on Medicaid, and eliminate important consumer protections that stopped the most egregious abuses of the insurance industry;
WHEREAS, Total health system costs in the United States will continue to be the highest in the world, and growing;
WHEREAS, Avoidable pain, suffering and financial disaster caused by our healthcare system will therefore continue unless we stop treating health like a commodity and eliminate the profit-motive from our healthcare system.
The (INSERT YOUR PARTY NAME) party supports a universal, single payer healthcare plan that ensures access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for all regardless of age, income, employment, or health status.