Newborn Screening Update for RNs (Page 114)

Attention, nurses who work in maternal-child health: See this letter (pasted below) from the Minnesota Department of Health regarding storage and use of residual blood spots.

On:
In: Activism

MTN/Channel 16 is broadcasting a 30 minute program of State Representative Frank Hornstein being interviewed by Lara Norkus-Crampton, RN regarding the capacity increase proposed for the Downtown Garbage Burner (the HERC) by Covanta and Hennepin County.

Don’t have cable?  Livestream @ http://www.livestream.com/mtnstudios16.

(There may be some initial commercial interruption so log in a few minutes before the start of the scheduled time.)

Representative Hornstein has been a staunch opponent to garbage incineration for many years and has played an important role in fighting this increase in the HERC burning capacity from 1000 tons per day to burning 1200 tons of mixed garbage per day.
… Read more about: MNA RN Speaks Out on Community Health Issue  »

On:
In: Uncategorized

First Week of Session

The 2012 Legislative Session began this Tuesday, with commitments from legislative leaders that it will be a short session, with the goal of ending by April 2. The biggest issues of this session are likely to be constitutional amendments, a bonding bill, and a Vikings stadium.

Of most concern to MNA are constitutional amendments that will hurt working families. We are again dealing with a divided government, with the Senate and House in Republican control, and a Democratic governor. The legislative majorities, anticipating that Governor Dayton would veto a number of their more controversial priorities, have chosen a strategy that bypasses the Governor and asks the voters to write policy changes directly into the constitution.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, January 27, 2012  »

On:
In: Activism, Healthcare, Hospitals, Labor Unions, Nurses, Politics

Have you or a family member ever had the unfortunate experience of suffering from a pressure ulcer? In addition to being extremely unpleasant and painful, pressure ulcers can become so deep that they result in damage to your muscles, bones, tendons and joints.

And pressure ulcers – also commonly known as bedsores – are almost always preventable when proper staffing levels are adhered to.

Yet last week’s release of Minnesota’s Eighth Annual Adverse Events Report noted that incidents involving pressure ulcers spiked more than 19 percent statewide in 2011. What state hospital executives didn’t mention in spinning away that alarming statistic was that numerous national studies have shown a direct correlation between inadequate nurse staffing levels and an increase in conditions including pressure ulcers, pneumonia, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, shock/cardiac arrest, urinary tract infections and more.
… Read more about: MNA President Linda Hamilton’s Response to Minnesota Adverse Events Report’s Release  »

On:
In: Activism

MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)

Today’s Story: Extremely busy, high acuity with no available  resources, nurses came from other units to help as able, but were not able to perform tasks necessary such as del, OR, scrub.
… Read more about: Unsafe Staffing Story: A “rushed and chaotic” feeling  »

On:
In: Labor Unions

From the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation: The Winter Carnival is almost here … Come march with us in the King Boreas Grande Day Parade!

We will be gathering at the Labor and Professional Centre in the Main Labor Hall at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday January 28, 2012. We will leave together to line up for the parade which begins at 2:00 p.m.

Our marching unit is co-sponsored by the Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation’s AFL-CIO Community Services program and Greater Twin Cities United Way.

If you would like to participate, please call Kelsey Eide at (651) 222-3787 ext.
… Read more about: Winter Carnival Invitation from St. Paul RLF  »

On:
In: Activism, Politics

In light of today’s announcement of a new bill in the Minnesota Legislature that would make neglecting a vulnerable adult a more serious crime, the Minnesota Nurses Association issued the following statement:

“As nurses, nothing is more important to us than ensuring our patients – especially the most vulnerable – are protected and given the best care and treatment possible.  We applaud the idea of protecting vulnerable adults, which is why nurses have been at the forefront of the movement to highlight the need for adequate staffing inside our hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities.

While every caregiver – including nurses – is and should be held accountable for the quality of his or her own care, it is important we don’t lose sight of the bigger issue here: The chronic and systemic understaffing of our hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities where care is delivered. 
… Read more about: MNA Statement on vulnerable adult crime bill introduced in MN Legislature  »