North Memorial Nurses Send a Clear Message: Protect Patient Safety (Page 62)

The sidewalks around North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale on June 24 were filled with more than 500 nurses, nurse assistants, janitors, food service workers and supporters from as far away as Bemidji uniting in opposition to the hospital’s plan to cut nursing staff to dangerously low levels.

They spoke loudly and passionately about the hospital’s plan to increase the number of patients each nurse cares for and how it would endanger patient safety.

“They want to change the game and decrease staff to unsafe levels,” said North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Mary Turner. “North Memorial nurses want to provide the care patients need and deserve – and this plan will reduce our ability to provide safe care for every patient.”

“Patient safety has always been my number-one concern,” said North Memorial nurse Monifa Owens, who picketed with her baby son and teen-age daughter.

“We’re out to let our voices be heard for patient safety,” said Angela Oseland, another North Memorial RN. “More nurses are taking more patients, who are sicker and need more care.”

The signs picketers carried told the story: “No to North Memorial Cuts,” “Patients Before Profits,” “Protect Patient Safety,” “Safe Standards Now,” “If Nurses are Outside, Something is Wrong Inside.”

“We’re going to fight for you,” North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Trent Burns told the crowd.

“The number of people who took the time to stand with us – North Memorial staff who finished a long shift and came straight to the picket line, supporters from around the state as well as nurses from Metro hospitals – and elected officials including House Speaker Paul Thissen and Majority Leader Erin Murphy – are a testament to the importance of this issue,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton. “This was the first time that MNA and SEIU Healthcare served picket notices at the same time and partnered on informational picketing. We are all fighting together for patients.”

“Seeing everyone’s concern and dedication together throughout the day was very encouraging,” said North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Barbara Gundale. “It shows the strength we have we we stand together. Some nurses stayed the entire 10-hour day because they were so disturbed that picketing was their only way left to protect the minimum staffing we now have.”

Here’s a  new video from the picketing.

Check out this link to the significant body of research that correlates nurse staffing and patient outcomes.

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In: Activism, Minnesota Nurses Association, North Memorial, Unsafe Staffing

The sidewalks around North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale on June 24 were filled with more than 500 nurses, nurse assistants, janitors, food service workers and supporters from as far away as Bemidji uniting in opposition to the hospital’s plan to cut nursing staff to dangerously low levels.

They spoke loudly and passionately about the hospital’s plan to increase the number of patients each nurse cares for and how it would endanger patient safety.

“They want to change the game and decrease staff to unsafe levels,” said North Memorial MNA Nurses Co-Chair Mary Turner. “North Memorial nurses want to provide the care patients need and deserve – and this plan will reduce our ability to provide safe care for every patient.”

“Patient safety has always been my number-one concern,” said North Memorial nurse Monifa Owens, who picketed with her baby son and teen-age daughter.
… Read more about: North Memorial Nurses Send a Clear Message: Protect Patient Safety  »

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In: Activism, Hospitals, Nursing, Politics, Standards of Care, Unsafe Staffing

 

 

Minnesota Nurses fighting for safe staffing levels for patients held an informational picket on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.  Legislative leaders from the area joined them to echo their concerns that patient safety is a concern.

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… Read more about: Video: Minnesota Nurses Hold Informational Picket at North Memorial Hospital  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, North Memorial, Patient Safety, Unsafe Staffing

Sign up  for Picket Duty

HQ, Parking, Shuttle & Other Transportation Info

Nurses at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale are on the front lines of a battle for safe staffing and safe care that could have a major impact on MNA members and patients throughout the state.

North Memorial management wants to cut nursing staff to dangerously low levels by increasing the number of patients each nurse cares for in the majority of units in the hospital. Nurses are fighting the plan at every step of the way.

“Our patients deserve the best possible care,” said North Memorial MNA Co-Chair Mary Turner.
… Read more about: North Memorial Medical Center nurses protest unsafe staffing plan  »

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In: Hospitals, National Nurses United, Nurses, Patient Safety, Standards of Care

@mx_860
Sweeping changes underway in the nation’s health care delivery system that expose hundreds of thousands of patients to severe risk of harm are the focus of a major new national campaign by the nation’s largest organization of nurses announced today.

An unchecked proliferation of unproven medical technology and sharp erosion of care standards are rapidly spreading through the health care system, far outside the media spotlight but frighteningly apparent to nurses and patients, says National Nurses United.

In response, NNU has launched a major campaign featuring radio ads from coast to coast, video, social media, legislation, rallies, and a call to the public to act, with a simple theme – “when it matters most, insist on a registered nurse.”  The ads were created by North Woods Advertising and produced by Fortaleza Films/Los Angeles.
… Read more about: NNU launches "Insist on an RN" campaign with radio ads  »

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In: Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Politics

MNA Legislative Update May 9, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board  Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

On Monday the House voted to accept the changes the Senate made to bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) last week. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals (known in statute as Charitable Hospitals). Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update May 9, 2014  »

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In: Healthcare, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Nursing

 

On May 6, 2014, elected officials in Minnesota kicked off Nurses Week (May 6 – 12) with proclamations and public statements celebrating Minnesota’s nurses.  In the coming days, throughout the state, nurses will continue to demonstrate how Nurses Care by sharing their stories, using their contract to advocate for their patients, conducting food and clothing drives and feeding those in need.

Statement made in the Minnesota Senate.

Senator Chris Eaton, RN

The State of Minnesota places the highest priority on quality health care for all of our citizens and counts 116,685 dedicated and professional licensed nurses in the state. 
… Read more about: Minnesota Honors Its Nurses  »

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In: Activism, Hospitals, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Politics

Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

MNA Legislative Update May 2, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board

A bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) was passed by the full Senate on Monday. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals (known in statute as Charitable Hospitals). Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update May 2, 2014  »

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In: Legislative Policy, Minimum Wage, Minnesota Nurses Association, Politics

Minnesota State Capitol St Paul Minnesota

MNA Legislative Update April 25, 2014

 

Public Employee Relations Board

 

A bill to establish a Public Employee Relations Board (HF3014) has already passed and will be heard by the full Senate on Monday. This legislation would create a board to decide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) claims involving public employees, which includes many MNA nurses at public municipal or county hospitals. Under current law public employees must litigate ULP claims in district court-a cumbersome and expensive process. The PERB bill would create a process that saves employers and employees money and would mirror the ULP process in the private sector.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update April 25, 2014  »

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In: Minimum Wage, Minnesota Nurses Association, Politics

MNA Legislative Update April 11, 2014

There was a lot of activity at the Capitol this week with several major pieces of legislation debated, passed, and signed into law. Many of these were priorities that MNA supports.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Status: Passed by House and Senate

On Monday morning, leaders of the House and Senate announced an agreement to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage (HF2091). The agreement will raise the wage to $9.50 over three years and include an automatic inflationary increase that allows workers to keep up with the cost of living. The final deal includes a provision allowing the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to suspend the inflationary increase in case of an economic downturn.
… Read more about: MNA Legislative Update April 11, 2014  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Patient Safety

CSS formLast year at the State Capitol, legislators were impressed when the Minnesota Nurses Association turned over boxes of Concern for Safe Staffing Forms at committee hearings.

The forms helped make the case that patients are at risk and nurses are advocating for better staffing to improve quality care.

Now the form has been improved to allow for database search and data analysis.  We will now be able to tell lawmakers and patients how many incidents of unsafe staffing occurred at facilities; how many times nurses felt their patients were at risk; how many times management ignored or simply dismissed requests by nurses to bring in more staff because they were caring for too many patients at one time.
… Read more about: New Concern for Safe Staffing Form  »