MNA Legislative Update: National Nurse Licensure Compact Bill
2012-03-06
MNA nurses remain firm in the belief that National Nurse Licensure is NOT the answer for Minnesota.
MNA Legislative Update: National Nurse Licensure Compact Bill (Page 112)
Act Now: Contact your legislator through MNA’s Grassroots Action Center
Last night the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard the National Nurse Licensure Compact Bill. In 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton removed or vetoed the National Nurse Licensure Compact language from the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill. When asked “What’s different this year? What concerns of the Governor’s have been resolved?” the chief author, Senator Chris Gerlach (R) from Apple Valley, responded by stating there are more supporters this year. At first glance, one can tell that the growing number of supporters is corporations as this would make it possible for corporations to bring in nurses from other states who have differing, or lower standards for nursing care than Minnesota nurses.
The Minnesota Nurses Association opposes the National Nurse Licensure Compact because:
- It will offer Minnesota nursing jobs to non-Minnesota nurses.
- It forces Minnesota to relinquish local control of nursing practice to an appointed National Board of compact administrators.
- It puts patients safety at risk in multiple ways.
MNA President Linda Hamilton, Vice President Bunny Engeldorf and NNU President Jean Ross all testified last night in opposition to this bill.
Minnesota Nurses stand ready and willing to work with the Minnesota Board of Nursing and employers to explore Tele-health/Tele-nursing issues to address patient continuity of care. However, MNA nurses remain firm in their belief that National Nurse Licensure is NOT the answer for Minnesota.
The committee voted and passed the bill out of committee on a party line vote. The bill now moves to Senate Finance. If the bill moves to the Senate floor you will be contacted to call your legislator and ask them to vote “no” to protect Minnesota jobs, our state’s rights and to protect patient safety.
Finally, the audio/video archived hearing information and link with be posted as it becomes available. Stay tuned to the MNA Blog for more updates!
Breaking News on Important Legislative Issue: National Nurse Licensure Compact
2012-03-05
Last Friday you received an email notifying you about the hearing on the National Nurse Licensure Compact (SF230
… Read more about: Breaking News on Important Legislative Issue: National Nurse Licensure Compact », also known as the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact) scheduled for today in the Minnesota Senate. We have gotten more specific information on the timing of the hearing: the Compact will be last on the agenda for the hearing, and we have been told by Health and Human Services Committee staff to expect the compact to come up sometime between 5:00 and 6:30 pm tonight. Schedules at the Legislature are very fluid and things may change, so we can’t give you an exact start time, but we believe that if you arrive by 6:00 pm you will be there in time to hear the discussion.
Legislative Update March 2, 2012
2012-03-02
MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses from every corner of the state came together on Monday and Tuesday to learn more about legislation at the Capitol that will affect nurses and patients, and to talk to their elected officials enacting policies based on nursing values. Nurses focused on:
- The unfair, unsafe and unnecessary “Right to Work” legislation that will weaken unions and hurt nurses and patients.
- Constitutional amendments that will write gridlock and budgeting gimmicks into Minnesota’s Constitution.
- Threats to nursing practice like the National Nurse Licensure Compact and a proposal to create a redundant and punitive criminal background check specifically for nurses.
Press Release: MNA RNs Introduce 2012 Staffing For Patient Safety Act
2012-02-28
Armed with new – and disturbing – evidence gathered from the front lines of hospitals across the state, Minnesota nurses introduced legislation today aimed at addressing patient safety through adequate staffing levels.
RN Essay: The Numbers Don’t Lie – Safe Staffing Saves Lives
2012-02-25
Bemidji RN Sandra K. Nye wrote an amazing essay – published in her area newspaper – recently on safe staffing levels. Please take a few minutes to read and consider what Sandra points out:
There is an alarming pattern of increased adverse events occurring in hospitals throughout the U.S., which includes medication errors, unnecessary deaths, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections.
A direct relationship exists between the quality of nursing care and amount of time a Registered Nurse spends with each patient. These events are preventable by simply increasing RN numbers each shift. Nurses are the greatest defense for patient safety, so it is vital that safe RN staffing becomes a priority in hospital policy and budget.
… Read more about: RN Essay: The Numbers Don’t Lie – Safe Staffing Saves Lives »
Right to Work and RN Salaries
2012-02-23
It is critical to separate fact from fiction when evaluating the so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment being proposed during the 2012 legislative session.
Here’s a great illustration of how the amendment could negatively impact Minnesota nurses’ salaries. Take a look:
… Read more about: Right to Work and RN Salaries »
Legislative Update, Feb. 17, 2012
2012-02-17
MNA Legislative Update February 17, 2012
Right to Work
“Right to Work” constitutional amendments that would weaken unions and undermine workers’ rights have been introduced at the Capitol. These bills are unnecessary, unsafe and unfair. They will not create jobs and will not help our economy. They will make all of our families unsafe if professionals like nurses, firefighters and police officers have their voices silenced in the workplace. Minnesota has the third highest quality of life in the United States. We have a far lower rate of unemployment than the national average. States that already have Right to Work laws have lower qualities of life and higher unemployment than states with strong collective bargaining rights.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, Feb. 17, 2012 »
MNA Statement on Gov. Dayton’s State of the State
2012-02-15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, 651-414-2863
ST. PAUL (February 15, 2012) – As Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State speech Wednesday, the leader of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) echoed her organization’s support for the Governor’s top priorities – jobs, education and reform.
“What our friends, neighbors and patients do need are good-paying jobs, access to affordable healthcare and great education for our children,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN. “What they don’t need is a slew of divisive constitutional amendments that do nothing to address the core needs of Minnesotans across the state.
… Read more about: MNA Statement on Gov. Dayton’s State of the State »
(Untitled)
2012-02-15
Found this video really funny (and true!) about all the amazing benefits Labor Unions have brought to the American workforce. Easy to forget all that Unions have done.
… Read more about: (Untitled) »
MNA State RNs = Generosity, Service
2012-02-15
So proud of our MNA State Nurses! Did you see this item from the Governor’s Office? Here’s the press release:
St. Paul, MN – Today the Minnesota State Employees Combined Charities Campaign presented their 2011 donations in support of Minnesota charities. The donations, totaling $842,639.13, will benefit 39 charitable federations working in communities across the state to support vital health, education, arts, and social service programs. The campaign consists of 2,320 state employees that chose to donate a portion of their paycheck towards a charitable organization via payroll deduction.
Lt. Governor Prettner Solon, the honorary chairperson of the campaign, presented the ‘big check’ to ten federation representatives at an event this morning in the Governor’s reception room.
… Read more about: MNA State RNs = Generosity, Service »