NOTES ON NURSING
| Sleepy Eye Nurses Vote For Union Representation with Minnesota Nurses Association24 registered and licensed practical nurses at Sleepy Eye Medical Center have the power of 20,000 additional voices at their workplace with today’s decision to join the Minnesota Nurses Association. Leaders are confident the move will lead to better and safer care for patients of the critical access hospital located in south central Minnesota. “With a contract behind us, we can better advocate for our patients,” said Naomi Freyholtz, RN. Nurses were stirred to organize in part because skilled colleagues have been exiting the facility due to frustration with management practices regarding scheduling and staffing. “We’ve lost 33 nurses in three years,” said Freyholtz. “We stood to lose more if things didn’t change.” Katie Grams, LPN sees the benefit of connection in joining a community of nurses. “It’s such an advantage to be represented by people who deal with facilities similar to ours and who share our concerns,” she said. She sees the power to bargain as a strong tool to help her profession. “As we are the voice of our patients, we are the voice for each other in our union,” Grams added. |
Nurse Sues, Says Hospital Backs Dad’s Request That No Blacks Treat His Newborn An African-American nurse who is suing a Flint hospital because she said it agreed to a man’s request that no African-American nurses care for his newborn recalled Monday that she was stunned by her employer’s actions.
HEALTH CARE
As Parkland Built up Reserves, Patient Care Suffered Parkland Memorial Hospital quietly amassed more than $1 billion in cash reserves even as deteriorating patient-care conditions brought it to the brink of closure, an analysis of financial records shows.
LABOR UPDATE
Union for Boeing Technical Workers Planning Next Move After Rejecting Contract Offer The union had recommended rejection of the contract because it would not provide pensions to new employees. They would have a 401(k) retirement plan instead.