Press Releases
2015-11-01
Press Releases
M Health Fairview Nurses Hold Vote of No Confidence in Hospital Management
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 26, 2020 – Nurses working at M Health Fairview hospitals voted overwhelmingly to indicate they have “no confidence” in hospital management’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Nurse members of the Minnesota Nurses Association work at University of Minnesota Medical Center-West Bank, Fairview Southdale, St. Joseph’s, St. John’s, and Bethesda hospitals.
“M Health Fairview is flagrantly violating the safety and staffing protections jointly agreed to by nurses and management, and yet our incredibly dedicated nurses are still throwing themselves into harm’s way to protect the public,” said Modest Okorie, a Registered Nurse at Bethesda Hospital.
... Read more about: M Health Fairview Nurses Hold Vote of No Confidence in Hospital Management »
Minnesota Nurses Asking for Public to Donate COVID-19 Protective Masks
Media Advisory:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 20, 2020 – Nurses are calling on Minnesotans to help with the drastic shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Twin Cities hospitals. The Minnesota Nurses Association is accepting donations of N95 masks, which will be distributed to the State Emergency Operations Center to distribute to nurses who are running out at their respective hospitals.
“We’ve received numerous emails and calls from well-wishing patients and their families,” said MNA President Mary C.
... Read more about: Minnesota Nurses Asking for Public to Donate COVID-19 Protective Masks »
Minnesota Nurses Call on Hospitals to Meet to Resolve COVID-19 Preparedness Issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 18, 2020 – Minnesota Nurses are calling on Minnesota Hospital Association member hospitals and Mayo Clinic Health System to join MNA in an emergency meeting to reach an agreement to resolve the outstanding concerns and problems, which nurses raised, that create barriers to appropriate levels of preparedness to adequately deal with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Nurses brought their concerns public at a press conference at the Minnesota Nurses Association offices today.
... Read more about: Minnesota Nurses Call on Hospitals to Meet to Resolve COVID-19 Preparedness Issues »
Minnesota Nurses Support Higher Standards for COVID-19 Preparedness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 13, 2020 – Nurses on the front lines of treating patients are urging all healthcare facilities to adopt stronger standards for protection of workers against the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In ongoing surveys of Minnesota Nurses, the vast majority are reporting that their hospitals are not providing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent spread of the virus to healthcare workers.
“Now is not the time to get it half-right,” said MNA President Mary C.
... Read more about: Minnesota Nurses Support Higher Standards for COVID-19 Preparedness »
MN Nurses and Service Employees Cancel Lobby Days, Call on Elected Officials and Healthcare Corporations to Take Action to Ensure Safe and Healthy Minnesota
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – March 12, 2020 – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Minnesota State Council have both canceled their 2020 Lobby Days that were scheduled for March 19th and March 24th, respectively. The Unions both cited the Novel Coronavirus outbreak and the need for union members who are on the front line of caring for tens of thousands of Minnesotans every day to be healthy so they can provide the critical services Minnesotans may need in the coming weeks.
... Read more about: MN Nurses and Service Employees Cancel Lobby Days, Call on Elected Officials and Healthcare Corporations to Take Action to Ensure Safe and Healthy Minnesota »
Minnesota Nurses Support AG Task Force Recommendations to Lower Drug Costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – February 19, 2020 – Minnesota nurses support making prescriptions more accessible to patients and making pharmaceutical companies more transparent and accountable. As bedside eyewitnesses to the consequences of patients who can’t get the drugs they need, nurses support the Minnesota Attorney General’s Task Force on their recommendations for making this overly complex market easier for consumers.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison appointed the task force last year, and the group, which includes Minnesota Nurses Association Executive Director Rose Roach, has been working on reforming the cost of drugs for Minnesota patients.
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St. Paul Council Press Conference to Announce Resolution Against Hospital Closure
Media Advisory:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – February 6, 2020 – On the day that Fairview hospitals will cut Bethesda Hospital by half the number of beds, city leaders and patient advocates will announce a resolution to oppose the cuts and demand transparency from the hospital corporation.
Fairview set February 10, 2020, as the date Bethesda would drop from 90 beds to 50 and layoff hundreds of workers, including respiratory therapists, nurses, and healthcare aides.
... Read more about: St. Paul Council Press Conference to Announce Resolution Against Hospital Closure »
Nurses, Doctors, Patients to Hold Town Hall on HealthEast Hospital Cuts
Media Advisory:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – January 28, 2020 – The No Cuts on Quality Care coalition of concerned community members, organization leaders, nurses, doctors and patients is holding a community forum Tuesday night to discuss the potential cuts and closures at Bethesda and St. Joseph’s hospitals. M Health Fairview CEO James Hereford has been invited to attend but has not responded.
These cuts will have ripple effects at all metro Twin Cities hospitals.
... Read more about: Nurses, Doctors, Patients to Hold Town Hall on HealthEast Hospital Cuts »
Nurses, Healthcare Workers, Patient Groups Invite Hospital CEO to Forum about Cuts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – January 22, 2020 – A coalition called “No Cuts on Quality Care” of nurses, doctors, faith leaders, and patient groups are inviting Fairview Health CEO James Hereford to a community forum to discuss cuts to Bethesda and St. Joseph’s hospitals. Advocates plan to deliver the invitation to Hereford at a forum on the future of healthcare Thursday morning at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown St. Paul.
“The coalition wants to ensure you have a chance to hear from real community members and patients about the impact that cuts and closures will have on us all,” the invitation reads.
... Read more about: Nurses, Healthcare Workers, Patient Groups Invite Hospital CEO to Forum about Cuts »
The Prescription for Minnesota is to Streamline Healthcare
Only a Single Payer, Medicare for All System Can Cut Costs
Contact: Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Amber Smigiel
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – January 10, 2019 – Minnesota nurses are calling for legislators to take the advice of nurses, doctors, and now healthcare researchers to save healthcare by streamlining the system into a “single payer” program, such as Medicare for All that would cut administrative costs by 80 percent.
A recent report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that the U.S.
... Read more about: The Prescription for Minnesota is to Streamline Healthcare »