Staff Nurses Unite at MNA's 108th Annual Convention (Page 72)

Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association gathered in St. Paul Oct. 13 – 16 to set the wheels in motion of another eventful year ahead.   Gathering for the 108th time in the history of the organization, nurses made noteworthy operational changes; attended provocative education sessions; shared experiences during networking opportunities and took time to honor the achievements of colleagues who have made significant contributions to nursing and MNA.

“Our journey ahead will result in the advancement of our nursing profession through the solidarity of bedside nurses,” declared MNA President Linda Hamilton as she welcomed the elected leaders during opening ceremonies of the House of Delegates.

Opening Speeches Inspire

President Hamilton, along with National Nurses Association Co-Presidents Karen Higgins and Jean Ross brought delegates up to date on state, national and global efforts by nurses to address health care and economic injustice issues.  “Nurses must stand up and be heard, because silence implies we accept the unacceptable,” said Hamilton.  She set out a clear challenge to MNA members to consider running for elected office.  “We need you,” urged Hamilton.  Higgins relayed her admiration for the nurses of Minnesota and credited us for fueling the energy that is spreading across the nation.  “Organizing momentum is gaining throughout the country, as nurses from Texas, Florida and  Missouri join our national union.  NNU is also on the frontline of pushing for additional research providing more evidence of the correlation between nurse staffing and patient outcomes.  “We know the data will help us prove that limiting patients is not only safer, but saves money as well,” said Higgins.  Jean Ross painted the global picture, saying “We have an international coalition of nurses connected in purpose.”  Referring to the newly-formed Global Nurses United, Ross informed delegates that unions from 14 countries have agreed to work together to stop the harmful effects of austerity measures, privatization and cuts in health care services.

Education Hot Topics

“Everybody’s a storyteller,” according to John Capecci, author and communications coach who encouraged nurses to use storytelling to be better patient advocates.   According to Capecci, the five qualities of a good story are: 1) focused; 2) positively charged; 3) crafted; 4) framed and 5) practiced.

Nurses can be effective at telling their stories and affecting changed about patient care if they can explain how the world could be better using the positive message of change even if it’s changing from the sad story they know.  He said stories can be effective change agents even if they’re just stories told at a party.

Capecci also advises nurses should know what they want their audience members to do by making goals for each audience and focusing the story to achieve those goals.  Nurses practiced their story telling by listing why they want safe patient care in exactly six words.  Compelling examples such as “I want you home alive,” and “It’s my responsibility to care,” immediately popped out of nurses’ mouths.   Capecci said, as a patient, he was moved to want to help make hospital care better for patients and nurses.

Attendees had the opportunity to get an up-close look at the impact the Affordable Care Act (ACA) might have on health care, the hospital industry and the nursing profession.     Heidi Hoechst of NNU described key elements of the Act, and reminded nurses how often the “patient” part has been ignored in the media coverage.

Hoechst pointed out the challenges we already face as different insurance providers choose to define the words “quality” and “affordable.”

Meanwhile, companies are using the ACA as an excuse to cut employee hours. Hospitals, specifically, are not only cutting staff and reducing hospital stays, but are advancing an agenda of de-skilling and the automation of the nursing profession, all in the name of financial difficulty despite soaring profits for hospitals.

Heidi ended on a note that as with any law, changes may be required, but we see this as moving one step closer to true universal coverage.

Rene Cronquist, Director of Practice and Policy at the Minnesota Board of Nursing led a session regarding changes to the Nurse Practice Act which became effective Aug. 1, 2013.  Working together with MNA, the Board implemented new policies that help clarify and define role differentiation between LPNs and RNs.

Awards Ceremonies Celebrate Scholarship, Research and Achievement

The stars among us include nursing students and nursing researches who were awarded over $101,000 in scholarships and grants by the Minnesota Nurses Association and the following award winners:

  • Rep. Joe Atkins – Political Official Award
  • Kava Zabawa and Coral Bastien – Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award
  • Margaret Dornfeld – Creative Nursing Award
  • Joe Howard – Sarah Tarleton Colvin Political Activist Award
  • Maxine Patterson – Nurse Educator Award
  • Elizabeth Voss – Nurse Researcher Award
  • Mary Gag – Mentorship in Nursing Award
  • Richard Ames – Distinguished Service Award
  • Mary Kirsling – Audrey Logsdon/Geraldine Wedel Economic and General Welfare Award
  • Randi Owens – Ruth L. Hass Excellence in Practice Award
  • Cynthia Petty – Elizabeth Shogren Health and Safety Award
  • Bernadine (Bunny) Engeldorf – President’s Award

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In: Activism, Labor Unions, Legislative Policy, Minnesota Nurses Association, National Nurses United, Nurses, Nursing

Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association gathered in St. Paul Oct. 13 – 16 to set the wheels in motion of another eventful year ahead.   Gathering for the 108th time in the history of the organization, nurses made noteworthy operational changes; attended provocative education sessions; shared experiences during networking opportunities and took time to honor the achievements of colleagues who have made significant contributions to nursing and MNA.

“Our journey ahead will result in the advancement of our nursing profession through the solidarity of bedside nurses,” declared MNA President Linda Hamilton as she welcomed the elected leaders during opening ceremonies of the House of Delegates.
… Read more about: Staff Nurses Unite at MNA’s 108th Annual Convention  »

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In: Bargaining, Health Care Reform, Hospitals, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses

On Thursday, October 17, MNA nurses are taking their concerns directly to management at Sanford hospitals.  At Bagley, nurses are concerned they’re being asked to cover more patient assignments for each nurse and doctor.  At Thief River Falls, nurses are concerned their own health insurance benefits are being cut.  In Bemidji, nurses are concerned that untrained staff are monitoring patients on telemetry.
… Read more about: Video: Thief River Falls petition to Sanford HR  »

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In: Bargaining, Hospitals, Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses, Patient Safety Standards, Unsafe Staffing

On Thursday, October 17, MNA nurses are taking their concerns directly to management at Sanford hospitals.  At Bagley, nurses are concerned they’re being asked to cover more patient assignments for each nurse and doctor.  At Thief River Falls, nurses are concerned their own health insurance benefits are being cut.  In Bemidji, nurses are concerned that untrained staff are monitoring patients on telemetry equipment.
… Read more about: Bagley nurses deliver message to hospital management  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Nurses

Coming to the 109th Nurses Convention?  Grab a great deal at the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Silent Auction.  The 6th annual silent auction to benefit the MNAF includes original art, theater tickets, hotel stays, skin treatments, haircuts, and concert passes.
All of the money generated from the silent auction goes to the grants and scholarships awarded to nurses studying important health and wellness issues facing Minnesotans. In 2013, the MNAF awarded $91,000.00 total to 37 recipients.

Here are some items:

Hosko print

Signed, limited-edition pen and ink illustration by Bill Hosko of the Hoskogallery
… Read more about: Auction to benefit MNAF  »

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In: Activism, Bargaining, Nurses

KinnicnursesMNA nurses had gone through three negotiation sessions with Grace, the latest owners of the Kinnic Nursing Home in River Falls, Wisconsin.  They last left the table with management trying to take away family leave language, leave of absence days,  to radically limit time for jury duty, and even reduce days off for the death of a child or spouse.

MNA nurses looked like they were headed toward mediation to get a new contract, but then they started showing that nurses were standing together.   Bobbi Spence, and Suzanne Kitzmann, LPNs and bargaining unit leaders, started handing out red wristbands to their fellow union members.. 
… Read more about: Even a small unit can have a big effect  »

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In: Bargaining, Hospitals, Nurses

Back in 2008, a lot of working folks planning for retirement saw their savings dwindle.  Some saw their net worth spiral downward pretty quickly.  For example, someone who had to invest in a 401(k) retirement fund opened statements to see that a savings of $10,000 had dwindled to $7,000.  Those that could wait have been riding out their disappointment (as well as not opening their retirement savings notices anymore).  Only now, five years later, are they starting to see their nest egg return to its pre-recession figures.  Of course, anyone who needed to retire in 2008 had to cash out for pennies on the dollar.
… Read more about: Nurses are protecting their pensions  »

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In: Minnesota Nurses Association, Patient Safety Standards, Unsafe Staffing

Dirty money concept.For the second time this month, financial experts are predicting a tough year ahead for the non-profit hospital industry.  First, Standard & Poor’s rating services analyst said profit ratios will be down in 2013 (link here)  Now, Moody’s Investors Service is saying expenses outpaced revenue last year as patient revenue slipped by half a percent (found here).  What’s more, both reports say that efficiencies in hospital business were actualized last year and won’t produce any more savings in the future.  In other words, hospitals got lean and can’t get leaner.

Add to that the paralyzing fear many hospital CEOs are feeling over the effects of the Affordable Care Act, reduced payments from many insurance companies (such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield), and reduced government dollars for patients who are readmitted. 
… Read more about: Hospitals bleeding money?  »