Thank you to Dr. Hans-Peter de Ruiter (Page 34)

By Geri Katz

Geri Katz
Geri Katz
Manager of Practice, Education, and Special Projects

Manager of Practice, Education and Special Projects

and Megan Gavin

MNA Labor Representative

 

MNA member Hans-Peter de Ruiter, PhD, RN, has retired from the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Board of Directors after nine years of service, including five years as chair.

 

Megan Gavin
Megan Gavin
MNA Labor Representative

Hans has led the MNAF board in awarding scholarships and grants to promising students and nurses whose academic pursuits will help support MNA’s mission and goals and make real improvements in care and building power for nurses. Hans led the MNAF board in expanding scholarship offerings considerably. In 2015, the MNAF awarded 30 scholarships for a total of $69,500. Just four years later, the MNAF awarded 71 scholarships for a total of $173,000.

 

Hans also led the creation of Legacy Scholarships for children of MNA members and was instrumental in the establishment of a new scholarship in honor of Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first African American graduate nurse in the United States. Awarded for the first time in 2019, the Mary Eliza Mahoney Scholarship provides financial support to members of other healthcare unions facing institutional and structural barriers, who want to become Registered Nurses and members of MNA.

 

Hans teaches nursing at Minnesota State University in Mankato and emphasizes the importance of bedside care. He sets high standards for his students. He’s also known for emphasizing the need for collective bargaining and using MNA events as teachable moments for students.

Hans Peter de Ruiter
Dr. Hans Peter de Ruiter
MNAF Chair

Hans has brought groups of student nurses to MNA conventions to build bridges between the newest nurses and those who have served for decades. Hans also brings his students to MNA’s Student Nurses Day on the Hill every year to showcase the value of nurses engaging in political advocacy. He has also been instrumental in building support for the event among other nursing faculty.

 

Hans himself will continue to teach and pursue research that will improve the practice of nursing both for nurses and patients.

 

MNA is grateful for his service on the MNAF board and his continued work on behalf of the nursing profession.

On:
In: Activism, Education, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nonprofit

By Geri Katz

Manager of Practice, Education and Special Projects

and Megan Gavin

MNA Labor Representative

 

MNA member Hans-Peter de Ruiter, PhD, RN, has retired from the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Board of Directors after nine years of service, including five years as chair.

 

Hans has led the MNAF board in awarding scholarships and grants to promising students and nurses whose academic pursuits will help support MNA’s mission and goals and make real improvements in care and building power for nurses. Hans led the MNAF board in expanding scholarship offerings considerably.
… Read more about: Thank you to Dr. Hans-Peter de Ruiter  »

On:
In: Activism, Bargaining, Essentia, Home

After multiple contract negotiating sessions, MNA nurses in the Twin Ports are turning to the public in their campaign for a fair contract.

Nurses at Essentia and St. Luke’s hospitals in Duluth and Superior packed the July 8 Duluth City Council meeting to share their concerns and ask for councilors’ support as they negotiate new contracts. Their current contracts expired June 30.

Nearly 200 nurses filled the council chamber and hallways as four MNA members and MNA Executive Director Rose Roach addressed councilors about their concerns about patient care, scheduling the appropriate number of nurses to care for patients, and workplace safety.
… Read more about: Spectacular show of solidarity  »

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In: Home, Member Blog

‘Why not me?’

By Racial Diversity Committee member Dr. Ngozi F. Mbibi, DNP, RNC-OB, FWACN, FAAN

Welcome to the MNA Racial Diversity Committee’s first blog post.

Our committee is only a few months old. We started as a new Racial Diversity Task Force in 2017. (MNA had a similar task force and a work group in the early 2000s.) In 2018, the House of Delegates saw the importance of continuing and expanding our work, and decided we should be a standing committee. Members were appointed at the January 16, 2019, Board of Directors meeting.

We have been meeting monthly ever since and are working on some major projects.
… Read more about: ‘Why not me?’  »

On:
In: Home, Hospitals, Nurse education, Nurses, Patient Safety

By Jackie Russell, RN JD

MNA Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist

 

My middle-aged male patient worked a labor job. He came to our ED Triage from work wearing jeans and work boots. He was active. He had no significant health history but also chest pain. Because he didn’t have a cardiac history, was otherwise healthy, bright and chatty, he was placed on a monitor in a trauma room for further evaluation. I remember he said he was under stress at work, but I didn’t pry and we talked about other, benign things. Funny how we remember apparently insignificant details about our patients.
… Read more about: The More You Know and the Deskilling of Nursing Practice  »

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In: Home, Press Releases

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org
Barbara Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org

(St. Paul) – June 15, 2019 – Nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with  Children’s Hospitals of Minnesota and withdrew the threat of a nurses’ strike at the hospitals.

The nurses’ and the hospital’s negotiations teams met over a 21-hour session and cooperated to jointly address issues, including the cost of health insurance for MNA nurses.

“Nurses are happy that Children’s recognized that the cost of insurance is a concern that affects the hospital’s competitiveness of attracting and retaining nurses,” said Michelle Cotterell, a sedation nurse at Children’s Minneapolis campus. 
… Read more about: MNA Nurses Reach Agreement with Children’s Hospitals  »

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In: Home, Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Barbara Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org

 

(St. Paul) – June 13, 2019 – Nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest offer by Children’s Hospitals of Minnesota and authorize the negotiating team to call a strike.

A hospital strike must be authorized by a supermajority of the membership there, and the decision of when a strike would begin and how long it would last will be decided by the elected nurse members of the negotiating committee.
… Read more about: Press Release: MNA Nurses Reject Children’s Contract Offer, Authorize Strike  »

On:
In: Events, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses

MNA annually recognizes nurses who made important achievements in practice, research, activism and more at the Honors and Awards Ceremony at the MNA Convention. MNA nurses are doing incredible things in our communities! Do you know a nurse who has gone above and beyond and should receive an award and recognition of their work? The deadline for nominations for the MNA Honors and Awards is July 1.

Submit your nominations here!

*note originally published January 24

 

By Deb Meyer, RN


… Read more about: Don’t Miss Your Chance to Recognize the Outstanding Nurses in Your Life  »Deb Meyer, RN
Practice and Education Commissioner

Practice and Education Commissioner

Nurses are doing great things every day, and we need to recognize these nurses, which we do annually at the the Minnesota Nurses Association Honors and Awards banquet during the annual convention in October. 

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In: Home, Press Releases

MNA Contact:  Barb Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org 

MAPE Contact: Ashley Erickson
(o) 651-621-2638
(c) 507-450-5511
aerickson@mape.org 

AFSCME Contact: Trisha Harms
(o) 651-287-0558
(c) 651-895-0632
Trisha.harms@AFSCMEmn.org

(Anoka) – May 29, 2019 – Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) staff are at risk every day they walk through the doors because the hospital does not have needed security to prevent violence by patients and others. MNA, AFSCME, and MAPE members are picketing outside the hospital this afternoon to shine a spotlight on safety concerns after a nurse was violently attacked recently.

“That attack shows just how dangerous the working conditions are at AMRTC,” Carrie Mortrud, RN, said.
… Read more about: Press Release: A Safe Workplace is not Optional. Anoka Treatment Center Workers Picket for Safety  »

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In: Home, Press Releases, Workplace violence prevention

Members of three unions plan informational picket May 29

​
MNA Contact:  Barb Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org

MAPE Contact: Ashley Erickson
(o) 651-621-2638
(c) 507-450-5511
aerickson@mape.org

St. Paul) – May 26, 2019 – The recent attack that left an Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center nurse severely injured and hospitalized has prompted employees from three unions to call for immediate measures to improve safety for workers, patients, and visitors.

MNA, AFSCME, and MAPE members are picketing on May 29 outside the hospital to shine a spotlight on the safety crisis and the hospital’s failure to install security measures.
… Read more about: Press Release: Anoka Treatment Center Staff Picket Over Recent Violent Attack, Unsafe Conditions  »

On:
In: Bargaining, Home, Press Releases

Contact:  Rick Fuentes
(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Barb Brady
(o) 651-414-2849
(c) 651-202-0845
barbara.brady@mnnurses.org

​
(St. Paul) – May 22, 2019 – Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association in the Metro area are picketing selected hospitals to take their issues to the hospitals. Today, nurses from across the Twin Cities targeted Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Negotiations between nurses and hospitals have stalemated over a new contract, even though their contract expires on May 31.

“Nurses have felt disrespected at the bargaining table, and they feel they have to take the issues of workplace safety to the hospitals’ front door,” said Doreen McIntyre, a nurse at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.
… Read more about: Press Release: Twin Cities Nurses Picket Hospitals for Safety, Benefits  »