FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minnesota nurses urge lawmakers to trust nurses on the need to address corporate greed and patient needs in our hospitals
(St. Paul) – January 23, 2024 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) celebrated being named the most honest and ethical profession for the 22nd consecutive year. In the Gallup poll, conducted in December 2023, 78 percent of U.S. adults said nurses have “high” or “very high” honesty and ethical standards.
“Nurses greatly value the trust and understanding we share with our patients as we both face the consequences of executives’ corporate greed in our hospitals,” said Chris Rubesch, RN, MNA President. “Nurses urge lawmakers to place that same trust in nurses and make the changes patients and nurses need to address corporate greed and protect care and working conditions at the bedside.”
The Gallup report notes that “[the] image of many professions — particularly those in the medical field — sharply improved in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that effect was short-lived … a select few — led by nurses for the 22nd consecutive year — maintain overall positive ratings.” The Gallup poll also found that while most professions “show at least slightly lower ratings in the past year,” labor union leaders were an exception to this trend.
MNA nurses continue to sound the alarm on the crisis of patient care and retention created by the corporate greed of executives in Minnesota hospitals. Last year, nurses championed the bipartisan Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a comprehensive approach to nurse staffing and retention. Because of the power and influence of corporate healthcare executives over our elected leaders, the bill died at the eleventh hour. Nurses are again calling on the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Walz to listen to the public and trust nurses on the need to address this crisis for patients and workers at the bedside.
