Unsafe Staffing Hits A New High at SMDC (Page 121)

Wow. Nearly 900 open and unfilled RN shifts at SMDC in Duluth over the past month! The hospital said as recently as yesterday during negotiations that staffing is just fine as is!

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In: Duluth Bargaining

Today was our seventh bargaining meeting with management of St. Luke’s hospital. In our meeting today it was made totally clear and the statement was made from management, “The buck stops here.” It stops with management. They did not want to give the rights in our contract that the board of nursing says we already have. We need the ability to say no to an unsafe assignment and if there are no nurses to take an admission safely, for the right in our contract to temporarily close the unit to admissions. We made it clear to management of our needs in our contract for safe patient care.
… Read more about: Duluth Bargaining Update – St. Luke’s (July 21)  »

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In: Duluth Bargaining

Today was our sixth negotiation session with management of SMDC.

It was our first day with a federal mediator. Management did not say that staffing is a problem at SMDC. We told two very heartfelt staffing stories and there was no acknowledgement of the severity of the problem this creates for us as nurses and our patients. We asked what we could do to convince management that staffing is a problem. We were told that staffing is not a problem.

“I won’t say there is a problem or there isn’t a problem.” Mary Beth Olson said in response to our staffing discussion.
… Read more about: Duluth Bargaining – SMDC (July 21 Update)  »

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In: Uncategorized

The next scheduled MN Board of Nursing Practice Committee date is:

The meeting is being held on the 4th floor in the conference room.

This is the meeting the board has suggested might be the final prior to making recommendations on LPN models of practice to the full nursing board. If true, we really need a large turnout of MNA members (think informational picketing!!).

LPNs have been attending these meetings in increasing numbers.

Please make an effort to attend, and encourage your colleagues to come with.
… Read more about: Upcoming MNBON meetings – Please Attend if you can!!  »

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In: Uncategorized

MNA experienced a problem with its email system on Tuesday July 13 starting around noon and extending into early Wednesday morning.  If you sent email to MNA during that time, please resend your messages or call MNA as we have only been able to recover some of the email for that period.  Email sent anytime after 7:45 am on Wednesday morning is not affected.  Thank you for your understanding and assistance.
… Read more about: Please note: MNA Email Problem earlier this week  »

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In: Duluth Bargaining

Today we had our sixth bargaining session with management of St. Luke’s hospital.

“The St. Luke’s bargaining committee refined the staffing plan in order for the contract to be settled. We have solidified the direction we need to go. Management’s response fell short of our safe staffing needs, because it did not allow for RN’s to say ‘No’ to an unsafe assignment.” – Mary Koski “Meech” RN

Cindy Prout, RN, states, “Yesterday we had a great, successful picket at SMDC as Duluth Nurses United. Our favorite chant of the day was ‘1, 2, 3, 4, We don’t like your grid no more!
… Read more about: Duluth – St. Luke’s Bargaining Update (July 13)  »