Minnesota Nurses Support Higher Standards for COVID-19 Preparedness (Page 32)

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Contact: Rick Fuentes
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rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Amber Smigiel
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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. Turner. “The difference between optimal measures and sub-optimal is lives at stake, people affected, and hospitals full of patients. If nurses are not protected, there will be no nurses to care for patients.”

MNA nurses point to the science showing that COVID-19 is spread through both airborne and fluid contact, which means the highest levels of prevention need to be taken. The public can protect themselves by following the MDH’s community mitigation measures. This includes handwashing, covering their mouths, and avoiding large, crowded events. We also urge those planning large events to postpone them and ask that workplaces arrange for employees to work from home.

Healthcare workers, however, can’t avoid the public, and they need the highest levels of precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), and training.

“Nurses are shocked at the recent relaxing of CDC guidelines on using PPE,” Turner said. “This is a time to firm up practices. To make sure we’re using only the safest equipment, like the N95 mask. And to make sure we’ve got plans on isolating suspected positive patients.”

The CDC recently rolled back guidelines on PPE to promote using the looser, ill-fitting surgical masks instead of more protective N95 mask. Nurses are also concerned the CDC is no longer recommending moving suspected or positive infectious patients to isolation rooms. Minnesota lawmakers and healthcare facilities, however, have the ability to provide stronger protections for healthcare workers.

“We urge lawmakers to stand with nurses in mandating healthcare facilities enforce stricter protections for healthcare workers,” Turner said. “Without optimal protection, healthcare workers will further the spread of the illness.”

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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  »

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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  »

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By Mary C. Turner, RN

MNA President

 

Mayo Clinic released its 2019 annual financial report at the end of February, and it surely made more than one person’s mouth fall open. A lot of those people, by the way, probably also work on the top floor, management offices of hospitals—not just Mayo.

 

First, here’s the numbers.  Mayo reported the company earned more than $13.8 billion in 2019. That’s money for everything from patient care to Mayo-branded backpacks ($39.95 in the Mayo marketplace store). Out of that, Mayo spent $12.8 billion. This means Mayo’s “operating revenue” is 1 billion dollars! 
… Read more about: Mayo’s Numbers Show NonProfit Financials are Really, Really Big  »

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The upcoming Minnesota presidential primary is a chance for MNA nurses to have their voices heard to elect the next president and to bring nurse priorities that protect patients and the profession into the voting booth. In 2016, legislation passed to make Minnesota a presidential primary state for the first time since 1992. Only the two major parties of the state, DFL and Republican, will participate in this primary this year.

While MNA does not endorse candidates on the national level, NNU’s elected national leadership, representing 150,000 registered nurses in all 50 states, has a comprehensive process that is intended to emphasize extensive involvement of its leadership and NNU members.
… Read more about: Have you made your plan to vote in the MN presidential primary by March 3?  »

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Contact: Rick Fuentes
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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.
… Read more about: Minnesota Nurses Support AG Task Force Recommendations to Lower Drug Costs  »

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Contact: Rick Fuentes
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rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Amber Smigiel
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(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  »

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The Minnesota Wild held a Salute 2 Scrubs night on Monday, January 20, to honor the work healthcare providers do to keep the State of Hockey strong and healthy. MNA nurses attended to represent the nursing profession and have a little fun while supporting MNAF.

MNA member Linda Jessen-Howard of St. Joseph’s Hospital received recognition for her volunteer work with National Nurses United’s RN Response Network (RNRN) deployment to the Bahamas in response to the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. She also started the game with a spirited “Let’s play hockey!”
All attendees who purchased tickets through a special link received a gift bag, raffle prizes, and the opportunity to go on to the ice after the game for a photo.
… Read more about: MNA nurses and other healthcare providers go Wild  »

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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  »

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Contact: Rick Fuentes
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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  »

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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  »