Nurses to hold press conference to announce vote of “No Confidence" in Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis before Hennepin County Commissioners meeting (Page 5)

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

 

CEO cuts healthcare benefits for healthcare workers, receives raise amid nurse retention and workplace violence crisis at Hennepin County Medical Center

(St. Paul) – November 26, 2023 – On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, nurses will hold a press conference in the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center ahead of the County Board of Commissioners meeting regarding the 2024 fiscal budget for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Nurses will announce the results of their vote of “No Confidence” in CEO Jennifer DeCubellis and encourage the County Commissioners to stand with nurses and other healthcare workers at HCMC by working with Hennepin Healthcare to create a budget that retains healthcare workers and keeps workers safe in the hospital. Nurses will be joined by members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2474 and the Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE). 

“Jennifer has demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of both employees and patients, she has broken our trust,” said HCMC nurses in their “No Confidence” petition. “We cannot continue like this, we deserve better, our patients deserve better. HHS employees are asking for answers, oversight and accountability.” 

After informing Hennepin County Commissioner Board Chair Irene Fernando about the large cuts that were announced to their health plans and the impacts the cuts will have on recruitment and retention in an already understaffed hospital, nurses learned earlier this month that the Hennepin County Board approved an $8 million appropriation to help fix the insurance issues. Though nurses appreciate this appropriation, Decubellis declined to use that entire appropriation as a stopgap for the health plans and it is unclear where nearly half of that funding is going. Without direct intervention from the county board, there may still be a flight of healthcare workers due to the financial challenges this will cause. 

NURSE PRESS CONFERENCE 

When: Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 9:30 A.M. 

Where: The atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55487 

Who: HCMC nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association, healthcare workers with AFSCME Local 2474 and HCAPE 

What: Press conference to announce vote of “No Confidence” in Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis 

Why: To educate the public about the issues at their hospital and encourage County Commissioners to stand with nurses and other healthcare workers at HCMC 

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In: Action, Corporate Healthcare, HCMC, Home, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

 

CEO cuts healthcare benefits for healthcare workers, receives raise amid nurse retention and workplace violence crisis at Hennepin County Medical Center

(St. Paul) – November 26, 2023 – On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, nurses will hold a press conference in the atrium of the Hennepin County Government Center ahead of the County Board of Commissioners meeting regarding the 2024 fiscal budget for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). Nurses will announce the results of their vote of “No Confidence” in CEO Jennifer DeCubellis and encourage the County Commissioners to stand with nurses and other healthcare workers at HCMC by working with Hennepin Healthcare to create a budget that retains healthcare workers and keeps workers safe in the hospital.
… Read more about: Nurses to hold press conference to announce vote of “No Confidence” in Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis before Hennepin County Commissioners meeting  »

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In: Elections, Home, Mary Turner, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.orgLauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

Chris Rubesch, RN, elected MNA president with a call to educate, engage and empower nurses  

Nurses thank outgoing president Mary C. Turner, RN for her years of service 

(St. Paul) – November 22, 2023 – Today, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced the election of Chris Rubesch, RN, from Essentia-Duluth as the new president of MNA. Rubesch will take office on January 1, 2024, with a newly elected Board of Directors.
… Read more about: Nurses elect new president, board of directors to continue fight for patients before profits  »

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In: Elections, Home, Legislative Policy, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

 

Nurse endorsements recognize lawmakers working to solve the crisis of understaffing and retention, hold corporate healthcare executives accountable and put patients before profits in our hospitals 

(St. Paul) – November 21, 2023 – Nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association today announced the endorsement of two candidates in races for the Minnesota House. These candidates are recognized for their various levels of leadership and partnership with nurses to make progress on issues important to nurses and patients.
… Read more about: Nurses endorse two candidates in 2024 Minnesota State House race  »

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In: Fairview, Member Blog, Nurse Staffing, Politics, Sanford

By Deb Meyer, RN, MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner

On October 24, I was invited to join a round table with the United States Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter. As an MNA Governmental Affairs Commissioner, this was an opportunity to continue in my leadership role and explain how corporatization affects Minnesota communities. It was an awesome experience!

Small business owners, farmers and a variety of other people told their stories. He really listened to everyone. My focus was on the Sanford/Fairview merger and how Worthington Regional Hospital changed after it was bought by Sanford. 
… Read more about: The corporatization of our communities: How nurses can speak out and make change  »

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In: Action, CHI, Home, Informational Picket, North Dakota, Patient Safety, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Bloomquist
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.bloomquist@mnnurses.org

Nurses take action as hospital management refuses to address safe patient care and nurse retention during contract negotiations

(Bismarck) – November 9, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed an intent to picket on Tuesday, November 14, outside CHI St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck, N.D. Nurses are speaking out because negotiations with hospital management have been unproductive when it comes to the issues nurses are most concerned about.

“Since bargaining began in July, CHI St.
… Read more about: Nurses at CHI St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck to hold informational picket  »

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In: Home, Mayo, Patient Safety, Press Releases

Mayo Clinic Health System is a name that conjures up images of world-class healthcare and cutting-edge medical treatment for many people in Minnesota. However, a troubling trend has emerged, as the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that Mayo Clinic Health System had the highest number of adverse health events in the state last year. We know that the root cause of this problem lies in their profit-driven business decisions that include high nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.  

In 2003, Minnesota became the first state to require hospitals to report, conduct a root cause analysis on and submit the findings and corrective action plan(s) on 28 “never events” that are considered preventable errors in hospitals.
… Read more about: The Costs of Profit-Driven Healthcare: Mayo Clinic Health System Leads the State in Adverse Healthcare Events   »

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In: HCMC, Home, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Lauren Nielsen
(c) 651-376-9709
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Nurses shared concerns to Hennepin County Board that pushed them to appropriate funds

(St. Paul) – November 6, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) employed by Hennepin Healthcare today announced they were able to gain assistance to lower their healthcare costs from the Hennepin County Commissioners through their strong advocacy.

After informing Hennepin County Commissioner Board Chair Irene Fernando about the large cuts that were announced to their health plans and the impacts the cuts will have on recruitment and retention in an already understaffed hospital, nurses learned late last week that the Hennepin County Board approved an $8 million appropriation to help fix the insurance issues.
… Read more about: Nurses at Hennepin County Medical Center win changes to planned insurance price hikes but need more help  »

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In: Allina, Home, Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Amber Smigiel
(c) 651-202-0845
amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Nurses to picket amid concerns about Allina’s proposed nursing staff reductions and recent closures

(St. Paul) – October 25, 2023 – Tomorrow, Thursday, October 26, 2023, nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association will provide media availability during their informational picket outside Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and United hospitals. In addition, they will hold a press conference at the United picket line at 2 p.m. with Allina nurses, labor leaders and elected officials. They are speaking out as Allina continues to close services essential to local communities and ignore nurses’ concerns about the outcomes of Allina’s current benchmarking plans.
… Read more about: REVISED: Nurses at Allina hospitals in the Twin Cities Metro to hold press conference, media availability during informational picket  »

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In: Allina, Home, Nurse Staffing, Press Releases, Unsafe Staffing

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Amber Smigiel(c) 651-202-0845amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org

Nurses concerned these efforts will lead to cutting corners on patient care and increased staffing turnover

(St. Paul) – October 19, 2023 – Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association have filed an intent to picket on Thursday, October 26, outside Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and United hospitals. Nurses are speaking out as Allina continues to close services essential to local communities and ignore nurses’ concerns about the outcomes of Allina’s current benchmarking plans.

These profit-driven decisions deny nurses and patients the resources needed to ensure safe staffing and quality patient care at the bedside, betraying Allina’s promise to serve the communities in which they operate as a nonprofit entity.
… Read more about: Nurses at Allina hospitals in the Twin Cities Metro to picket amid concerns about proposed nursing staff reductions and recent closures  »

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In: Corporate Healthcare, Healthcare, Home, Hospitals, Issues, Keeping Nurses at the Bedside, Legislative Policy, Mary Turner, Minnesota Department of Health, Nurse Staffing, Patient Safety, Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lauren Nielsen(c) 651-376-9709lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.orgAmber Smigiel(c) 651-202-0845amber.smigiel@mnnurses.org
(St. Paul) – September 27, 2023 – Nurses are once again speaking out after the Minnesota Department of Health’s report
… Read more about: Nurses call on MN legislature to act after report of increasing adverse patient events  », released today, details an increasing number of reported adverse health events in Minnesota hospitals. This news comes at a time when at least one major health chain in the metro area is proposing even further reductions to the number of nurses caring for patients.Nurses continue to sound the alarm that there is a crisis of patient care and retention by hospital executives in Minnesota’s hospitals.