MINNESOTA NURSING Accent
MNA nurses stand up for fair contract in 2016
In this issueAlarming rise in unsafe staffingin Minnesota page 6Nurses advocate for patients at2016 Day on the Hill page 13The nurse compact is back page 18
Spring 2016 | Volume 88 No. 1
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Cover StoryMinnesota Nursing Accent
Minnesota Nurses Association345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200
Saint Paul, MN 55102651-414-2800/800-536-4662
Spring 2016
PUBLISHERRose Roach
MANAGING EDITORSBarb BradyChris Reinke
BOARD OF DIRECTORSPresident:
Mart Turner, RN1st Vice President:
Bernadine Engeldorf, RN2nd Vice President:
Deb Haugen, RNSecretary:
Jennifer Michelson, RNTreasurer:
Judy Russell-Martin, RNDirectors:
Laurie Bahr, RNAmy Buggert, RN
Pat Dwyer. RNTammy Fritze, RNKatie Grams, RNJody Haggy, RNElaina Hane, RN
Melissa Hansing, RNRobin Henderson, RN
Diane Johnson, RNCarolyn Jorgenson, RN
Susan Kreitz, RNSarah Lake, RN
Candy Matzke, RNDoreen McIntyre, RNTheresa Peterson, RNKatherine Quarles, RN
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2016 is watershed year for negotiations FromGrandMaraistoPipestonetotheTwinCities,morethanhalfofallMNAnurs-esarenegotiatingcontractsinsomeverychallengingbargainingenvironments. Membersarestandingunitedagainsthospitaleffortstocuthard-earnedwagesandbenefits,startingintheTwinCities,wherewage-onlynegotiationsresultedincontractsfornursesinfiveofthesixmetrohospitalsystems. Thosehospitalsystems–Fairview,North,Methodist,HealthEastandChildren’s–requestedwage-onlynegotiationsinDecember2015.MNAnursesagreed.Theynego-tiatedcontractswith2percentannualwageincreasesandratifiedtheminJanuary. Onehospitalsystem–AllinaHealth–refusedtoparticipateinthewage-onlynego-tiations. Sayingitwantedto“change”healthinsurance,Allinaproposedearlylimited-scopebargaining(whereeachpartybringsafixednumberofproposalsinadditiontowages),duringwhichmanagementproposeddismantlingMNAhealthinsuranceplans. AllinanursesoverwhelminglyvotedAllina’sentireproposaldownonFeb.25,andfullcontractnegotiationsareexpectedtobegininApril. “ItwasclearthatAllinaHealthisinterestedinitsbottomline,notthenurseswhoprovidequalityhealthcareforallpatients,”saidMNAPresidentMaryTurner.“Nursesarecommittedtonegotiatingfaircontractsthatrecognizetheimportantworkwedo.” Allinamaybeatemplateforwhatotherbargainingunitscanexpectinnegotiationsthisyear. “OtherhospitalswillfollowAllina’slead,”saidTurner.“MNAnursesarecomingto-getherasneverbeforetofightcorporategreedandadvocateforcontractsthatensurenursescancontinuetoprovidequalitycaretopatients.” MNAnursesfromthroughoutthestatepackedaFebruary6rallytoshowsupportfornursesatmetroAllinahospitals, sendinga strongmessage tomanagement thatnursesareunited. MNAmembersfromBemidjitraveledtoBagleyonJanuary21tostandwithcol-leaguesatSanfordBagleyMedicalCenter,wereareindifficultcontractnegotiations.Bemidjinursessignedpetitions,talkedwithmembersatameet-and-greet,andmadestatementstoBagleymanagementtoshowunityandoffersupport. “Whennursesworktogether,anythingispossible!”saidPresidentTurner.
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Executive Director’s Column
Task force makes compassionate, patient-focused recommendations on the future of healthcare Minnesotatooksomeimportantstepstowardfixingourbroken healthcare system in January, when Governor Day-ton’sHealthcareFinancingTaskForceissueditsfinalrecom-mendations. Asthetaskforcememberrepresentingnurses,Iproud-lyvotedinfavoroftherecommendations,whichwillgetourstateontheroadtoprovidingbetteraccesstoandmoreaf-fordablehealthcareoptionsforallMinnesotans. ImadesuretospeakupforissuesandideasimportanttoMNAnurses,includingensuringthatourhealthcaresystemispatient-focusedandrecognizeshealthcareasahumanright. Taskforcemembersallagreedweneedtoprovidesus-tainable,qualityhealthcareforallMinnesotansincluding: • Encouragingseamlesspatientexperienceacrossall benefitprograms; • Reducingbarrierstoaccessibilityandaffordabilityof coverage; • Improvingsustainablefinancingofhealthprograms; • Ensuringthatinnovationinhealthcaredelivery reduceshealthdisparities,notincreasesthem. Thequestionsfacingourdiversegroupwerehowtomakethesegoalsareality.Wecamefromeverypartofthehealth-carespectrum,fromhospitalexecutivestopatientadvocatestolegislators. TheissuesraisedduringourdiscussionsmadeitclearthatMinnesotamust dealwith financing the healthcare systembeforewecanreallybegintodealwithcaredeliveryissues. As I emphasized to the task force, there ismore thanenoughmoneyinthecurrentsystem.Wejustneedtogetse-riousaboutreallocatingprecioushealthcaredollarstoactualcareandtothosewhoprovideit,ratherthanbuildnewcom-plexsystemsthathavelittleevidenceshowingtheyevenhelp. Thetaskforcehadspiriteddiscussionsaboutthesecriticalissues,andreachedagreementonapackageofrecommenda-tionsthatinclude: • ExtendingMinnesotaCaretocoverpeopleupto 275%oftheFederalPovertyLevel; • Repealingthesunsetoftheprovidertaxthatis neededtocontinueMinnesotaCare;
OfspecialinteresttoMNAnursesisthelastrecommen-dation: a study of financing single-payer healthcare. This iscriticaltohelpingthepublicunderstandthefinancialbenefitsofapubliclyfinanced,butstillprivatelydeliveredhealthcaresystem.Itwouldsaveindividualsmoneyinpremiumsandout-of-pocket expenses, it would save small businessesmoneytheynowspend in theever-increasing insurancepremiumsprivate insurance companies charge, and itwould save thegovernmentmoneybyincreasingefficiencyandusingitspur-chasingpower to reduceprices inpharmaceuticals, routineprocedures,andchronicconditiontreatment. Thetaskforceworkwasdonethroughthreeworkgroups:SeamlessCoverage,BarrierstoAccess,andtheoneIservedon,HealthcareDeliveryDesignandSustainability,whichwaschargedwith“identifyinginnovativehealthcaredeliverysys-temstrategiestoreducecostsandimprovehealthoutcomes.” We spent a great deal of time talking about Account-ableCareOrganizations,IntegratedHealthPartnerships,andHealthcareHomes, the latest in a long line ofmodels thatclaimtocontrolcostsandimprovecare.Ivoicedstrongcon-cernsaboutthefactthatthesepaymentmodelsarespringingupinmanypartsofMinnesotawithoutsolidpeerreviewedstudiesorresearchdemonstratingthattheyactuallywork. Iemphasizedtheneedforevidence-baseddatatoshowthesemodelsnotonlysavemoney,butmoreimportantly,theyimprove health outcomes of patients. In fact, there is someevidencethattheymaydotheopposite,increasinghealthdis-paritiesbyfinanciallypunishingproviderswhoservevulnera-blecommunities.Wesaywewantevidence-basedmedicine,shouldwenotalsodemandevidence-basedhealthpolicy?
Task force makes compassionate cont. on page 23
• Coveringadultimmigrants andtheirchildren,regardless ofimmigrationstatus,upto 200%ofthefederalpoverty level; • Fundinganeconomicstudytoexaminethelong-term financingofvariousoptionsforhealthcaredelivery, includingsingle-payerhealthcare.
President’s Column
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1. MNA empowers registered nurses to use their collective strength, knowledge, and experience to advance and enhance safe and professional nursing practice, nursing leadership, and the community health and well-being.2. MNAexemplifiesapositive,powerfulunionof professional nurses that advances nursing and patient interests. 3. MNApromoteseffectiveRNstaffingandsafe working conditions for both patients and registered nurses in direct patient care, in policy and political arenas, and in our communities.4. MNA increases membership and participation as a union of professional nurses through effective internal and external organizing, member activism, education, and mobilization.5. MNA actively promotes social justice, cultural diversity, and the health, security, and well-being of all in its organizational programs and in collaboration with partner organizations.6. MNA, in solidarity with the National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO, will promote the rights of patients, nurses, and workers across the United States.
1. All activities of the MNA will incorporate the principles of the Main Street Contract approved by the MNA House of Delegates in 2011.2. Position MNA for negotiations from strength across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.3. Organize to increase MNA membership and continue to increase solidarity and participation of membership locally, regionally, and nationally. 4. Work to elect politicians who will implement nurse-friendlypublicpolicy,includingsafestaffing, a healthcare system that includes everyone and excludes no one, and single payor healthcare legislation.5. Build solidarity to promote and support NNU and the AFL-CIO to advance labor nursing issues.6. Assess risks and actively oppose any attacks on nursing practice and workers’ rights, including any attempts of deskilling of the Professional nurse’s scope of practice and right-to-work legislation. 7. Continue MNA’s campaign for patient safety to ensure the integrity of nursing practice, nursing practice environments,andadvancesafepatientstaffing standards and principles.
MNA Organizational Goals and Priorities for 2016
MNA Mission Statement1. Promote the professional, economic, and personal well-being of nurses.2. Uphold and advance excellence, integrity, and autonomy in the practice of nursing.3. Advocate for quality care that is accessible and affordable for all.The purpose of the Minnesota Nurses Association, a union of professional nurses with unrestricted RN membership, shall be to advance the professional, economic, and gen-eral well-being of nurses and to promote the health and well-being of the public. These purposes shall be unre-stricted by considerations of age, color, creed, disability, gender, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
MNA Strategic Goals
2015 Organizational Priorities
Theword“busy”wouldbeanunderstatementtodescribemyactivitiessincetakingofficeasyournewpresidentonJanuary1.IamsohonoredtorepresentyouinMinnesotaandtheU.S.Believeme,thereisnoshortageofopportunities! Myfirstactionasyourpresidentwas inMasonCity,Iowa,onJanuary2,whereIjoinednursesfromMinnesotaandotherstatestodoorknockforBernieSanders.
Irecallthinkingatonehousewhereresidentsinvitedusinside,thatoutofallthePresidentialcandidates,Bernieistheonewhotrulycaresaboutpeopleandtheirneeds. Asyouallknow,ournationalunionwasthefirsttocomeoutinsupportofhimbecauseheknowsthatwhatconcernsnursesisimportanttoeveryone. Inadditionto2016elections,2016isamajoryearforcontractnegotia-tionsformorethanhalfofMNA’sbargainingunits. Theyearbeganwithwage-onlynegotiationsforMNAnursesinfiveofthesixmetrohospitalsystems.AllinaHealthrefusedtoparticipate.Thisinvolvednursemeetings,bargaining,andvoting,whichasyouknow,resultedinarati-fiedcontractforeveryonebutMNAnursesinAllinahospitals.Iwillbehonestandsaythatleavingthembehindleftaholeinmyheartthatwon’tbehealeduntilAllinanurseshaveano-concessioncontractaswell. YoucanfindmoreaboutAllinanegotiationsonPage2. Inextwas invitedtospeakattheannualPhilippineNursesAssociationholidayparty,whereIhadthehonorofswearingintheirnewofficers. Italkedtothemabouttheimportanceofnursesstandingtogetherforourprofessionnomatterwhatassociationwecomefrom. In fact, thePhilippineNursesAssociationhasmanyMNAnurseson itsBoardofDirectorsandthroughouttheorganization. Iwasgivenabird’seyeviewintothecaringandlovingcommunityofthePhilippinepeopleandIlookforwardtocontinuingaproductiverelationshipwiththatgroup. Perhapsmymostmemorable eventwas in February at the Inver HillsCommunity College, where I spoke to first-year nursing students. I talkedaboutMNA’shistoryandthehistoryofunionsingeneral.Atonepoint,Iranthroughalistofmorethan36benefitsandrightswenowhaveinourwork-placesbecauseunionsfoughtforthem. Iencouragedstudentstobecomeactiveasfuturenursesandsaidlegis-
First impressions of a new president
First impression of a new president cont. on page 11
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Minnesota Nurses Associationmembersdocumentedanalarmingin-creaseinthenumberofunsafestaffingincidentsin2015,accordingtoastudyreleasedonMarch15andsharedwithlegislatorsandstateofficialsataDayontheHillevent. The study analyzes unsafe staffingincidents reported by nurses onMNA’sConcernforSafeStaffingforms(CFSS). The“ConcernforSafeStaffingFormAnnualReport2015”foundnursesreportedmorethan2,700 incidentsofunsafestaffinginMinnesotahospitalsin2015.
Patient Safety
Accordingtothereport,nursesfiled32.93percentmoreCFSSformsincalendaryear2015thantheydidin2014,whichtotaled2,062incidents. Thereportsdocumentsubstandardpatientcare,suchasdelays intreatmentsormedications, inabilitytoanswercalllights, and incompletedischargesorassessments. Inmanycases,apatientwaslyinginahospitalbedwaitingforhelp,butnursingstaffalreadyhadtoomanyotherpatientstore-spond. “Minnesotanurseshaveseriousconcernsregardingtheirpatients’safetyandqualityofcare,”accordingtothereport.“Toooften,thoseresponsibleforstaffingdecisionsrespondtonurses’concernsinwaysthatareunreasonableandevenfrightening. In ignoringnurseconcerns for safestaffing,ad-ministratorsignoretheweightofacademicresearchdemon-stratingthatwhennursesworkshort-staffed,patientssuffer.”
Nurses report alarming increase in unsafe staffing at Minnesota hospitals
Nurse report alarming increases cont. on page 6
CFSS Year-End Report Data for 2014 and 2015
Delays in cares or treatments or incomplete assessments
Delay in medicationsInability to answer call lights
Incomplete discharge or rushed teachingManagement staffs by ratiosManagement works the shift
Management response-NONE or inappropriateExtreme overtime >16 hrs. in 24 hrs. or multiple doubles in a row
Patient falls or patient safety at risk
Patient left AMA or w/o being seenShort staffed >25% of what is neededTemporary solution-closed unit
Temporary solution-refused the assignment
Temporary solution-obtained the appropriate number of staff
Unqualified staff-nurse pulled off orientation earlyUnqualified staff-not trained to unit or equipmentUnqualified staff-wrong skill mix
1362646108520611484
149119
3572611362633791
124212387
2014
2062
2015
2741
192688215043567450
214023
22840625446157136215253661
Percentage Change
32.93%
41.41%36.53%38.62%72.82%-35.09%-40.48%43.53%21.05%-36.13%55.56%86.76%75.29%54.05%49.45%73.39%19.34%70.80%
Total
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“TherapidriseinCFSSformsshowsthatthe professional judgment of the nurseisn’tbeingtakenseriously,”saidCarrieMortrud, RN, one of report’s authors.“Nursesarealertinghospitalmanagementto a serious situation that could have atragic impact on patient safety and care,but the staffing decisions that cause the
situationsremain.” Mortrudandco-authorMathewKellercompiledandan-alyzedCFSSformsfrombothyearsandnotedthatsomecate-goriesofconsequencestopatientsshoweddisproportionate-lygreaterincreases. Thethreebiggestincreasescameinthecategoriesof“unitshort-staffed25percentorgreaterthanwhatisneeded,”with86percent;toomanypatientsforbedsand/orstaffcausednursesto“closetheunit”tomorepatientswentup75per-cent; and patients receiving “incomplete discharge instruc-tion”increasedby72percentoverthepastyear. “It’s evident that hospitals are cutting costswith staff,”Kellersaid.“Fewerstaffmeansmoredollarsforthehospitalsthatalreadypocketed$600millionmoreincomeafterexpen-ditureslastyear.Thepatienthastopaythesame,regardlessifthenurseisjugglingtwootherpatientsorsix.” “Nursesalwayscontinue to smileandcare for theirpa-tientsthebesttheycan,”Mortrudsaid. “Butthatcarehasbeenandwillcontinuetosufferuntiltherearequalitypatientcarestandardsthataddressstaffing.” ThefullreportisontheMNAwebsiteathttp://mnnurs-es.org/issues-advocacy/issues/concern-safe-staffing-re-port-2015/.
MNA releases report to members, legislators at 2016 Day on the Hill event
MaryMcGibbon DianneJohnson BarbMartin
Legislatorslistenintentlyasnursessharetheirunsafestaffingstories
MNAmembersshareunsafestaffingstories
CarrieMortrud
Nurse report alarming increases in unsafe staffing in Minnesota hospitals from page 5
Take a tour of the new MNAweb site for all your
information needs.
LABOR ADVOCACY
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LakeWood Health Center illegally ‘coerced,’ ‘interrogated’ staff: National Labor Relations Board
LakeWoodHealthCenterinBaudette“interferedwith,restrained or coerced employees in the exercise of theirrights”tounionize,accordingtoacomplaintissuedbytheNationalLaborRelationsBoardonFeb.22. TheNLRBcomplaintwasinresponsetoanUnfairLaborPracticechargefiledbytheMinnesotaNursesAssociationafterLakeWoodillegallywithdrewrecognitionoftheunioninthemiddleofbargainingafirstcontract. “LakeWood clearly violated our rights,” said McCallPlourde,anX-raytechnologistatLakeWood.“Management
triedtointimidatestaffintosigningapetitiontodecertifytheunion.Employeesbelieveaunionwillgiveusavoiceintheworkplaceandfairtreatment,sothistypeofactioncannothappenagain.” TheNLRBfoundmeritinMNAchargesthatLakeWoodHealth,whichisownedbyCatholicHealthInitiatives: • Interrogatedemployeesaboutwhetherthey supportedtheunion; • Illegallypromisedwageincreasestotryto makepeopleleavetheunion; • Orderedemployeestosignadecertification petition; • Liedabouttheunion’sbehavior; • Liedabouttheconsequencesofcooperating withtheNLRB; • Claimedtheyhadevidencethatamajorityof employeesdidn’twanttobepartoftheunion withoutprovidingtheevidence. TheNLRBhasscheduledanApril5hearinginBaudetteonthematter.ArulingfortheunionatthathearingcouldforceLakeWoodtorecognizetheunionandreturntothebargainingtable.
Douglas County Hospital ratifies contract – privatization worries remain ApleatothecountyboardofcommissionerswaspartofMNAnurses’efforts tonegotiatea fair contract–andsavetheirfacilityfromprivatizationormovingtoa501(c)3status-atDouglasCountyHospitalinDecember. In addition to difficult bargaining, nurses were veryconcerned about the possibility of privatizing the coun-ty-ownedhospitalinAlexandria. MembersappearedatacountyboardmeetingonDe-cember 15 to urge commissioners to keep their hospitalpublicandpreservethelocalflavorofthefacility–andtherightsandprotectionsemployeeshavebuiltovertheyears. “Weareveryconcernedforthefutureofourhospitalandallemployees,”bargainingunitmemberVirginiaStiertoldtheboard.“Youarestandingonthebrinkofanirre-
versibledecisionthatcouldbeharmfultoourentirecom-munity.” Nurseswereunited in standing strong for a fair con-tractandforkeepingthehospitalpublic,accordingtobar-gainingunitco-chairSteveLuchau.“Wepackedthehospi-talboardofdirectorsmeetingtowarnabouttheimpactofprivatizing.Webelieveitwillbedetrimentaltoallworkersandtheentirehealthcaresystem.” AsDouglasCountyRNswerenegotiatingtheirnewcon-tract,theysawtheneedtopreservetheirjobsandrightsifthefacilitywereprivatized.Theyeventuallyconvincedthecountytoaddsuccessorlanguage;andanewcontractwasratified. Thethreatofprivatizationcontinues;andRNsplantocontinuetheirfighttokeeptheirfacilitythecommunityas-setthatitis.
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LABOR ADVOCACYMontevideo contract increases wages MNAmembersatChippewaCountyMontevideoHos-pitalandMedicalClinicratifiedanewcontractinJanuary,followingonedayofwage-and-health-insurance-onlyne-gotiations. MNARNsandLPNsnegotiateda10percentwagein-creaseover threeyearsandahigheremployer contribu-tiontotheirHealthSavingsAccounts. “Memberswereunited insupportingtheteam,”saidbargaining unit chair Rachel Gort. “That helped negotia-tionsgomoresmoothly.” ThecontractwasratifiedJanuary14.
Horizon Public Health nurses ratify contract MNAnursesatHorizonPublicHealthinwesternMin-nesotanowhavetheirsecondcontract,afterpublichealthagencies in Douglas, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Grantcountiesmergedin2015. MNAnurses atHorizon ratified a newone-year con-tractinDecember. “Wenegotiatedwageincreasesandimprovementstohealthinsurance,”saidbargainingunitchairJoyceIverson.“Ittookthreesessionstoreachanagreementthatwebe-lieveisfair.”
State employees ratify contract
MNAmembersemployedbytheStateofMinnesotarati-fiedanewcontractinOctober. “Wenegotiatedanagreementthatincreaseswagesandmakesotherimprovementstothecurrentcontract,”saidBar-gainingUnitCo-ChairpersonLoriOlson.“Itrecognizestheim-portant–andoftendangerous–workthatwedo.” Thecontract representsmemberswhowork inHumanServices,Corrections,Health,Veterans’Homes,MNSCU,theStateAcademiesandArtsSchools,andtheBoardofNursing. The Legislature’s Subcommittee on EmployeeRelationsapprovedthecontractonJanuary16,andtheentireLegisla-turewillvoteonthecontractlaterthisyear.MinnesotaMan-agementandBudgetsentnoticetoeachagencyofthechang-estotheagreement.
MNAnursesatMinnesotaSecurityHospitalinSt.PeterdiscusssafetywithrepresentativesofGovernorDayton’sofficeinJuly2015
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LABOR ADVOCACYGRIEVANCE CornerA selection of important grievances from around the state • InMankato,anursebroughtagrievanceto arbitrationaftershewasturneddownforarelief shiftchargeposition,whichwassubsequentlygiven toanursewhohadappliedforadifferentposition andnevereveninterviewedforthereliefshift position.TheUnionarguedthattheprocesswas arbitraryandcapriciousbecausethehospitaldid notdirectlyaskifshewasqualifiedfortheposition, anddidnotconsiderherworkhistoryorher seniority.Unfortunately,thearbitratorfound thattheprocesshadbeenusedforsometime andwasknowntoallpartiesatthetimeofthe application,andruledinfavoroftheemployer. Thiscaseshouldbearemindertoscourinterview processescarefullywhentheyareinstalled. Inmanycases,ourlanguageonqualificationsfor positionsisquitestrong,butcanbeundercutby anonconforminginterviewprocessweaccepted onthegroundsthatitseemedreasonable. • AtSt.Luke’sinDuluth,theUnionhashelda long-standinggrievanceoverhowtohandle call-inbonuseswhenanurseiscalledinbefore thestartofhershiftbutworksuntiltheshift begins:doesonereceivethebonusguaranteed hoursforthecall-in,orisonepaidovertime? Thelawiscloselydividedonthequestion. Inthiscase,onlyonedepartment—theCathLab— wasusingtheunion’sfavoredinterpretations. Thecasewasreferredtoarbitration.However,as thecontractissoontoexpire,andthegrievancehad alreadybeenheldoverforonecontractterm,we agreedtosettlethegrievanceandholdthepractice overforthatdepartmentonlyuntilalong-term solutioncouldbereachedinnegotiations. • SanfordBemidjiattemptedtomaketwomajor unilateralchangestotheHospitalPTOpolicy: requiringnursesonleavesofabsence(including maternityleave!)touseupalltheirPTOand,once wefiledagrievanceonthatissue,alsorevoking therightofsomeofthenursestodonatePTOto others.Thesechangeseithercontradictedthe
spiritofthecontractorlong-standingpastpractices. ORNursescirculatedpetitionsandworebuttons whileSanforddelayedaction.IntheStep2,Sanford admittedthatthechangetothedonationpolicy wouldviolatethecontract,andweshowedthat Sanfordhadattemptedtochangethelanguagein previousnegotiations,meaningtheycouldnotexpect tochangeitunilaterallyduringthetermofthe contract.Becausethelanguagewasnotperfectly clearonthequestionofrequiringnursestousePTO, thepartieseventuallycametoastrongsettlement: anexplicitagreementthatnursescoulddonatePTO, andlimitstotheamountofPTOnewnurses(who wereunderadifferentplan)couldberequiredto usewhenonleave.Suchasettlementwouldnot havebeenpossiblewithouttheorganizationof thenurses.
MNAhassomegreatopportunitiesformemberstogetinvolvedandshapethefutureofourunion.
YoucanapplyforpositionsonourBoardofDirectors,commissions,andcommitteesthatdealwithissues
importanttonurses,fromsafestaffingtoethicstoeducation.TheBoardofDirectorsisMNA’s
TheBoardofDirectorshasoneopenposition;andthereareopeningsontheEthicsCommittee,GovernmentalAffairsCommission,MNAFoundation,andNursingPracticeand
EducationCommission.YoucanapplyforthesepositionsbycompletingtheRequesttobeConsideredforAppointmentform,whichisinthe
MemberCenteronMNA’swebsiteatwww.mnnurses.org.
Have a voice in your union
MNA Board of Directors, commissions, committees
have openings
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PROTECT YOUR PRACTICEByMathewKellerRNJD,RegulatoryandPolicyNursingSpecialist
The Nurse Compact has re-turnedonceagainaftersufferingde-featinthe2012LegislativeSession. The National Council of State
BoardsofNursinghasslightlymodifiedtheunion-bustinglaw,andincombinationwiththerecentpassageinMinnesotaofavastlydissimilarphysiciancompact,weexpectadifficultbat-tletodefeatthecompactin2016. Supporters of the Compact, including big corporatehealthcare and telecommunication providers, argue thatchangestotheCompactwill improvepatientsafetyandac-cesstohealthcare. However,the“new”Compactislittlechangedfromthe2012versionandcontinuestosufferfromvariousflawsdetri-mentaltobothourprofessionandourstate:Our Profession: •TheCompactfollowsalowestcommondenominator approach—anursecangetlicensedinastatewith minimalrequirementsforlicensure(e.g.no requirementforannualcontacthours)andworkin Minnesotaalongsidenurseswhodiligentlyfollow Minnesotastandardsforlicensure; •AtatimewhenMinnesotaislicensingmorethan 6,000RNsyearly,thestateisonlyadding1,700new RNjobsayear.Increasingcompetitionfortheseopen jobssimplyhurtsMinnesotanurses,whohavehigh standardsforlicensurebutwouldbecompetingwith nursesfromotherstateswithlowerstandards; •EnactingtheNurseCompactwouldcedefurther authorityoverthepracticeofnursingtobig corporatehealthcareandtelecommunication providersasnursingcarebecomesfurtheroutsourced anddistantfromlocalcontrolandleverage.Our State: •PassageoftheNurseCompactwouldrequire thatMinnesotaforfeitadministrativeauthority overtheCompacttocontractadministrators, limitingourstate’sabilitytoprovideoversight,
Nurse Compact returns for another round
evaluation,ormodificationoftheCompact. TheCompactisrequiredtobepassedasis,ornot atall; •Minnesota’saccountabilityforprotectingcitizens frominappropriateorunsafenursingpractice wouldbeseriouslychallengedasstaterequirements forlicensurewillapplyonlytonursesoriginally licensedinMinnesota,nottoCompactnursesfrom otherstateswhoareworkinginMinnesota; •Ourstatewouldloseconsiderablerevenuedueto annualfeespayabletotheCompactadministrator andlostregistrationfeesfromnurseswhomwithout theCompactwouldotherwisehavetopaytheirfair shareinordertopracticenursinginourstate; •PassingtheCompactwouldpreventtheMinnesota BoardofNursingfrombeingawareofwhichnurses areactuallypracticinginthestateandfromtaking actionstopreventsubstandardnursesfrompracticing inMinnesotatobeginwith. PerhapsthegreatestindicatorthattheNurseCompactisnotgoodforMinnesotaisthefactthatthePhysicianCompactissodifferent. Incontrasttothe“mutualrecognition”oftheNurseCom-pact,thePhysicianCompactrequiresphysicianstostillapplyforandmeetthelicensurerequirementsineachstateinwhichtheywishtopractice. Inthisway,thePhysicianCompactsimplystreamlinesthelicensureapplicationprocessacrossitsmemberstates. Whilewe expect proponents of theNurse Compact totoutitsrecentmodificationsandthepassageofthePhysicianCompactinsupportofthelaw,MNAnursesknowbetter—theNurseCompactisnotforMinnesota.
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First impression of a new president from page 4lators listentonurses,becausenotonlyarewethemosttrustedprofession inthenation,butbecauseweare inapositiontoseetheeffectsofgoodandbadpolicies.Weseetheresultsinourpatients’faceseveryday. IrecalltellingthemwhatIoncetoldmydaughter-thatif every employerwerehonest, fair, and voluntarily gaveall thosebenefits to theiremployees, therewouldbenoreasonforunions. Unfortunately, that’s not the case; and the fact thatwehaverightslikeaneight-hourworkday–andmore–isbecausepeople fought for them,notbecauseemployersvoluntarilyprovidedthem. Thehighlightofthatdaywasayoungmanwhocameuptomeandsaid,“Ijustwanttoshakeyourhand.” WhenIaskedhimwhy,hesaid,“IcomefromastaunchRepublican family strongly opposed to unions. But afterhearingyourpresentation,Iamnowabeliever.Ijustwanttothankyouforopeningmyeyes.” Fellownurses, if Ineverachieveanother thing inmypresidency, I will remember the words of that studentnurse.IknowIreallymadeadifferenceinsomeone’slife. MNAmembersmakeadifferenceinpeople’slivesev-eryday–atthebedsideandinthepublicarena.Wehaveagreatdealtodotogetherin2016–fromcontractnego-tiationstoelectingpro-nursescandidatesinNovember,tomakingsureelectedofficialsdowhat’srightfornursesandourpatientsaftertheelections. Iamsoexcitedtoworkwithallofyouasweworkto-gether toaccomplishgreat things forourprofession,ourcommunities,andourpatients!
Court case unites unions Acourtcasethathasthepotentialtocrippleunionsandtheir ability to represent members and the public interestshowstheimportanceofMNAaffiliationswithotherunionsatalllevels. Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association involves achallengetotherightofpublicunionstocharge“fairshare”feesandrequirememberswhoreceivethebenefitsofrepre-sentation,includinghigherwagesandbenefits,topayuniondues–whilewithholdingpaymentforcertainunionpoliticalactivity. Thecasegoesfarbeyondpermittingunionmemberstooptoutofduesforpolitics,goingdirectlytotheheartofev-erythingunionsdo. If theSupremeCourtoverturns thedecisionof the9thCircuitCourtofAppeals,publicsectorunionswouldbebarredfromrequiringanyduespaymentsfromanymembersevenwhilestillbeingmandated,atconsiderablecost,torepresentallmembersinbargainingforwages,healthbenefits,andoth-erconditionsofemployment–ineffectsubsidizingfreeriders,accordingtoNationalNursesUnited. Thecase involvespublic sectorunions,but if theCourtrulesagainstfairshare,privatesectorunionsareexpectedtoalsolosetheirrightsinthefuture. Inashowofsolidarity,Minnesotaunions,includingMNA,havebeenworkingtogethertoprepareforthepotentiallossof fair share, andwhatwould amount to right-to-work forunions. • Unionsrepresentingpublic-sectoremployees havebeenmeetingformanymonthstoprepare communicationsaboutFriedrichs,howtoprepare legislatorsforthepossibilityofright-to-work,and howtointernallyorganizearoundthoseissues. • Someofthoseinitiativesincludepublicoutreach, mutualpublicstatements,sharingresearch,and communicationsstrategies. • MNAhasworkedcloselywithSEIUHealthcareto developorganizingplansandcommunication strategiesaroundtheseissues,includingupdatesto ourmembershippoliciesandnewhireorientation.WiththedeathofJusticeScalia,Friedrichs’futureisinques-tion.Itmaybedelayedbyuptoayear,andpossiblyputonthebackburnerfortheforeseeablefutureifapro-unionjusticeisplacedonthecourt.
No matter what the final outcome, the case has broughtunionsthroughoutthecountrytogetherandshowedtheim-portanceofstandingtogether.
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At The Capitol
MNA nurses advocacy credited for Sanders win in Minnesota
Minnesotans“felttheBern”intheMarch1presidentialcaucuses,thankstoMNAnurseswhocampaignedtirelesslyfortheVermontsenator. SandersdefeatedHillaryClinton intheDemocraticcau-cuses,andhasgoneontowinseveralotherimportantprima-riesandcaucusessince.
MNAwillcontinuetoadvocateforaSafePatientStandardand single-payer healthcare in the Legislative session thatstartedMarch8. Youcanexpectafastandfuriouspaceinthisyear’sses-sion,whichwillonlylast10weeks. Legislatorswillspendmostoftheirtimeonhowtodealwithaprojected$900billionbudget surplus,bondingproj-ects,taxesandtransportationissues. MNAnurseswillcontinuetoeducatelegislatorsaboutaSafePatientStandardandtheimportanceoffindingalegisla-tivesolutionthatwillhelpprotectbothpatientsandnurses. Nurses will also advocate for important pieces of theHealthCareFinancingTaskForcereport, includingarecom-mendationforastudyofasingle-payerhealthcaretoensurecoverageforeveryoneinMinnesotaandsavethestateandtaxpayersmoney. MNAisworkingonanissuenewtoMNA:chemotherapysafehandling.WeareaskingtheDepartmentofLaborandIn-dustrytoconveneaworkgrouptostudyhowchemotherapyandotherhazardousdrugsarepackagedandadministeredintheworkplace.Theworkgroupwouldalsoissuerecommen-dationsonhowwecanensurethatallhealthcareworkersareprotected. MNAnursesareessentialtoaccomplishingthesegoals.YouarearespectedvoiceintheCapitol.WhenyoucometotheCapitoloremailyourlegislatortotellyourstory,youcanmakeadramaticdifference. Contact xxx for ways to get involved, including signingyourbargainingunitupforaminiDayontheHill.
MNA focus in 2016 Legislative Session: Safe Patient Standard, single-payer healthcare
MNA-endorsed Republican wins Senate election JimAbeler,aRepublicanfromAnoka,waselectedtotheMinnesotaSenateinaFebruaryspecialelection. SenatorAbelerisalong-timesupporterofMNAandnurs-es.He’s a chiropractor and former state representative en-dorsedbyMNAseveraltimesinthepast. Wehaveworkedwellwithhimonnursing,healthcare,andlaborissues. MNA looks forward to renewing that relationship nowthathe’sbackintheLegislature.
MNAmembersandstaffmeetingwithSenatorAbelerat2016DayontheHill
MNAmemberstourMinnesotaforBernieSandersonthe#BernieBus
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At the Capitol MNAnursesknockedondoors,madephonecalls,attend-edralliesandotherevents,androdethe#BernieBus,talkingtovotersaboutthereasonstovoteforSenatorSandersinthedaysandweeksleadinguptotheMinnesotacaucuses. “BernieSanderssupportsnursesandissuesimportanttonurses, including single-payer healthcare, access to health-careandeducation,concernsaboutretirementsecurity,thejobslostduetounfairtradedeals,widespreadinequality,andtheescalatingclimatecrisis,”saidMNAPresidentMaryTurn-er.“Peoplerespondedtousenthusiastically.SenatorSandershasstruckachordwithvotersofallagesandbackgrounds.
Day on the Hill The MNA sea of red was in full view during the 2016 Day on the Hill. Nurses from all corners of Minnesota gathered in St. Paul on March 14 to hear from MNA President Mary Turner, Executive Director Rose Roach, Senator Chuck Wiger, and Minnesota Department of Health Commis-sioner Ed Ehlinger. Members also went in-depth into the issues they planned to discuss with legislators, in-cluding safe patient staffing, single-payer healthcare, a proposed nurse compact, and a study of the need to protect healthcare workers who handle chemotherapy drugs. Nurses met with their legislators the next day, tell-ing heartfelt stories about their experiences, urging their representatives to support nursing issues.
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ThenumberofyoungpeoplesupportingSenatorSandersisespeciallyimpressive.Weallbelieveinhim.” National Nurses United members endorsed Sanderslast fall, andhave sponsored the#BernieBus,which travelsthroughouttheU.S.,filledwithnurseswhofanouttalkingtovotersaboutSenatorSanders. MNAnursesarefrequentpassengersinthebus,inMin-nesotaandmanyotherstates. “SenatorSandersiscreatingafuturetobelieveinandweareproudtospeakoutforhimateverypossibleopportunity,”saidTurner.
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Members in ActionYour contract is priceless: ask a former Wisconsin RN What’s the valueof your contract? Aska nurse who moved toMinnesotajusttobeinaunion. Emma Sonney lefther home state ofWis-consin after witnessingthe devastation thatRight to Work is inflict-ing on nurses and oth-er workers there. Sheworkedinhospitals inWisconsinandthengotajobatFair-viewSouthdaleinEdina. “ItishardtobeanurseinWisconsinthesedays,”shesaid.“Nurseshavelowpay,noguaranteedbreaks,noovertime,noinsuranceforspouses,novoiceintheworkplace.” Sonneyisthrilledtoliveinastatewhereshecanbelongtoaunion.Herincome,benefits,andworkingconditionsaremuchbetterthanshereceivedinWisconsin. “IwasalwaysontheedgeofmyseatinWisconsin,”shesaid.“Ihadnorightsandnoprotections.HereinMinnesota,IhavethepeaceofmindknowingIhaveaunionbehindme.” SonneywasespeciallyexcitedtovoteonherfirstunioncontractinJanuary,whenMNAnursesatfiveofthesixmetrohospitalsystemsratifiedanewcontract. “Aunioncontractispriceless,”shesaid.“Nursesneedtoadvocateforthemselvesjustaswedoforourpatients–andstandupforourrights.”
MNA nurses honored Katie Reinhardt, a Children’sMinneapolis RN and active MNAmember, was recognized for hercompassionatecarebyherhospitalinJanuary2016. Afamilyshecaredfornominat-edherandhercolleagueschoseherfor a Daisy Award for exemplifyingcompassionatecare. Daisyawardsaregiventonurs-eswho “consistently demonstrate excellence through theirextraordinarycompassionatecareandclinicalexpertise,andtheyarerecognizedasoutstandingrolemodelsinournursingcommunity.” Thehospital’sProfessionalDevelopmentCouncilreviewsnominationsandselectsawardwinners. KatieisanMNAstewardatChildren’s,aformerco-chair,andisonthepensionnegotiationsteam. ShecomesfromanactiveMNAfamily:hermom,LorraineFuhs,iscurrentlyaco-chairatChildren’sMinneapolisandveryproudofherdaughter–alongwithKatie’sco-workers,hus-bandandchildren! Katie says she couldn’t dowhat she doeswithout her“awesometeam–bothatworkandathome.”
Congratulations to MNA nurses on Abbott Northwestern’s
Rapid Response Team for 10 years of providing bedside emergency and
critical nursing care to patients! Thehospitalhonoredthenurseswithspecialeventsinclud-ingbreakfast,lunch,cake,andphotographsinDecember2015.
EmmaSouneyvotesforherfirsttime
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OnFebruary16,SenatorChrisEaton,R.N.,(DFL-District40),spoketoMNAmembersabouttheMinnesotaCompassionateCareAct(S.F.1880),abillshewillbepromotingoverthenextfewyears. Senator Eaton’s legislationwouldallowterminallyilladultsof soundmind to request andreceive medication to assisttheminapeacefuldeath. The bill follows Oregon,Washington, Montana, NewMexico,andVermont,whichallcurrentlyprovidethisoptiontoterminallyillpatients. The central features of thebillestablishsafeguards forpa-tientsandhealthcareworkersalike. Toqualify,apatientmustbeanadult,aMinnesotaresident,ofsoundmind,abletoself-administer,andterminallyillwithlessthansixmonthstolive. Theeligibilityanddiagnosisofterminalillnessmustbede-terminedbytwophysicians. Noproviderorhealthfacilityisrequiredtoparticipate.Simi-larly,noterminallyillpatientwouldbecoercedintoparticipating. ThedatafromOregonshowsthatthemajorityofpatientswhofilledtheprescriptionswereterminalcancerpatients(78percent),ofwhom90percentwereenrolledinhospice. PatientssufferingfromALSwerethenexthighestpopula-tionat8percent.Inthe16yearssincethelawwaspassedinOr-egon,only1,327prescriptionswerewrittenandthemedicationwasused859times. PatientsfromOregonreportbeingrelievedsimplytoknowthiswasanoptionshouldtheirpainbecomeunbearable. Publicopinionisshiftingonthistopic:a2014Harrispollin-dicatedthat74percentofAmericanssupportthistypeoflegis-lation. Similarlegislationhasbeenintroducedin20statesthisyear,includingIowaandWisconsin. Asanurse,SenatorEatonknowsthatnurseshaveavitallyimportantvoiceinthisconversation.Morethan20MNAmem-bersattendedtheforumandhadalivelydiscussiononthetopic. Manynurseswanted to knowwhatprotectionsexist forthosewithareligiousobjection. SenatorEatonreiteratedthatanyhealthcareprovidercanoptnottoparticipate.
Ethics Committee CornerSubmittedbytheMNAEthicsCommittee
Othersnotedthatreligious libertymeansthat individualshavearighttobefreefromtheburdenofsomeoneelse’sreli-giousbeliefs. Othernursessharedreflectionsthatthebillisnotexpansiveenough.Sincepatientsmustbeofsoundmind,thiswouldnotbeanoptionforAlzheimer’spatients.Patientswhohavelostmotorcontrolorareunabletocommunicatewouldalsonotqualify. ItisimportanttonotethatMNAhasnoofficialpositiononthislegislationatthistime. TheEthicsCommittee iseager tocontinuetheconversa-tion.TheEthicsBookClub is scheduled to takeup this issuewhenmembersdiscussAtulGawande’sBeing Mortal.
Nurses are Number 1 - again MNA nurses: when youfeel under-appreciated atwork,rememberthis:Ameri-cansratenursesasthemosttrusted profession in thecountry. That’s according to theresults of a Gallup poll re-leasedDec.31. NurseshavebeenfirstintheannualHonestyandEth-icsrankingeveryyearsince2005. “Withan85percenthonestyandethicsrating-tyingtheirhighpoint-nurseshavenoseriouscompetitionatoptheGal-luprankingthisyear,”accordingtothenationalpollingfirm. “Minnesotanursesareproudofthetrustthepublicplac-esinus,”saidthen-MinnesotaNursesAssociationPresidentLindaHamilton.“Peopleknowthatwearededicatedprofes-sionalswhofighttomakesureallpatientsreceivethequalitycaretheydeserve.” HerearethetopfivemosttrustedprofessionsaccordingtotheGalluppoll: 1.Nurses; 2.Pharmacists; 3.Medicaldoctors; 4.Highschoolteachers; 5.Policeofficers.
Sen.ChrisEaton
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Guide to dealing with Zika With summer just around the corner, it’s important tolearnabouttheZikavirusandhowtopreventcontractingit.ThisguidewascreatedusinginformationfromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandtheWorldHealthOrganization. Zika: What is it? While itmay seem like the Zika virus came out of no-where,itwasactuallyfirstidentifiedinhumansin1952.Sincethen,outbreakshavebeenrecordedinAfrica,theAmericas,Asia,andthePacific.Technicallyspeaking,theZikavirusisasingle-strandedRNAvirusoftheFlaviviridaefamily,genusFla-vivirus. How do I get it? TheZikavirusisprimarilytransmittedthroughthebiteofAedesmosquitos.Thereisalsoevidencethatitcanbetrans-mittedthroughsexualcontactandblooddonations. Where is the Zika outbreak occurring? CountriescurrentlyexperiencinganoutbreakofZikain-cludeAruba,Barbados,Bonaire,Curaçao,DominicanRepub-lic,Guadeloupe,Haiti,Jamaica,Martinique,PuertoRico,SaintMartin,TrinidadandTobago,U.S.Virgin Islands,CostaRica,ElSalvador,Guatemala,Honduras,Nicaragua,Panama,Mexi-co,Bolivia,Brazil,Colombia,Ecuador,FrenchGuiana,Guyana,Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela, American Samoa,MarshallIslands,Samoa,andTonga. I’m not going to those places. Should I still be concerned? Probablynot,althoughthereispotentialforthevirustospread toSouthwesternstates thatarehometo theAedesmosquito. What are the signs and symptoms of Zika? Theincubationperiod(thetimefromexposuretosymp-toms)ofZikavirusdiseaseisnotclear,butislikelytobeafewdays.Thesymptomsaresimilartootherarbovirusinfectionssuchasdengue,andincludefever,skinrashes,conjunctivitis,muscleandjointpain,malaise,andheadache.Thesesymp-tomsareusuallymildandlastfor2-7days.Approximately1in5peopleinfectedwithZikavirusbecomesymptomatic. What other complications can Zika cause? SeverediseasecausedbytheZikavirusisuncommonandfatality is low.However,thereisanecdotalevidencelinkingZikatoGuillain-Barresyndromeaswellasprenatalmicroceph-aly.Theselinksareunderinvestigation. What is the treatment? Zikavirusdiseaseisusuallyrelativelymildandrequiresnospecifictreatment.
How can I prevent it? TheeasiestmethodofpreventionistoavoidareaswheretheZikavirusiscurrentlybeingspread,especiallyifyouarepregnantortryingtobecomingpregnant. If there’snothingthatwillcomebetweenyouandspringbreakinCancun,how-ever,avoidingmosquitobitesisthekey.Thatmeansusingin-sectrepellent(preferablycontainingDEET)regularly,wearingclothesthatcoverasmuchofthebodyaspossible,andusingphysicalbarrierssuchaswindowscreens.Therearealsosev-eralproductsavailablethatimpartmosquitorepellingprop-ertiestoyourclothesforalimitedtimeafterwashingthem.PleasebeawarethatAedesmosquitosusuallybiteduringthemorningandlateafternoon/eveninghours.
MNA nurses spread holiday cheer MNAnursessteppedupandhelpedMinnesotafamiliesinneedthiswinter. Mankato:MNAnursesheldafooddriveinDecember,col-lecting133poundsoffoodandotheritemsfortheEchoFoodShelfinMankato. Duluth:Membersof theMinnesotaNursesAssociationfromSt.Mary’sMedicalCenterofDuluth,St.Luke’sHospitalofDuluth,Miller-DwanMedicalCenterofDuluth,Lakeshore-Ec-umenNursingHome,andSt.Mary’sHospitalofSuperiorcol-lectedclothingandotheressentialitemsforthehomelessandvictimsofdomesticabusethispastholidayseason.
MNAnursesinDuluthcollectclothingforthehomeless.
Mankatonursesholdfooddriveforlocalfoodshelf
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MNA staff changes MNAwelcomedseveralnewemployeesandsaidgood-byetoalong-timeloyalstafferinthelastfewmonths. WesaidafondfarewelltoNancyCarrier,whoretiredafterworkingatMNAfor36years. Nancy has seen dramatic changessince1980,whenshestartedasatempo-raryinMembership. “Therewerenocomputers,”shesaid.“Wedideverythingbyhand.” It took three days to post informa-tion.Everythingwaswrittenoncards,andstored in boxes. Therewere stickers foreach category: part-time, students, newgraduates.ThecomputeragewaswelcomeatMNA! “MNAhasbeenagreatplace,”shesaid.“I’venevernotwantedtocomeintowork.I’velikedmyjob.It’sbittersweet–Ilikethepeoplehere.Nursesareallgreat.Mydaughtersaid,youdon’tfindmanypeoplewhoworkinthesamejobaslongasme.Thatsaysalotaboutthisorganization.Iloveworkinghere!” Nancyplanstospendmoretimewithherhusband,chil-dren,andgrandchildren–andtravel.We’llmissyougreatly!NewstaffatMNA:
NancyCarrier
2016 Mini Days on the Hill
Visit the Minnesota State Capitol to talk to legislators about issues that affect your patients and your profession.
We’ll meet at the MNA office in St. Paul in the morning to get a briefing from the staff and a quick training on talking to legislators. Then we’ll carpool over to the Capitol and tell our elected officials about unsafe staffing and how patients are at risk when there aren’t enough nurses on duty, and
other priority issues for MNA. MNA staff will be with us to guide us and answer questions – it couldn’t be easier.
To get your hospital signed up please contact Cameron Fure, (651) 414-2843 [email protected] your hospital up to adopt your own Day on the Hill this session. Pick Your Day Now!
•BenAnderson,TemporaryUnionOrganizer:Benmost recentlyworkedasanorganizeratISAIAH,doing Spanish-speakingimmigrationorganizinginchurches. HepreviouslydidhousingorganizinginChicago. • JayArmstrong,TemporaryUnionOrganizer:Jayhas workedforUnite!andSEIUinavarietyofstaffpositions. •ChrisBublitz,AdministrativeAssistant:Chrishasbeena tutorinelementaryliteracyandcompositionin MinnesotaandOregon. •CameronFure,PoliticalOrganizer:Cameroncomesto theMNAviatheMichiganNursesAssociation,where hewasastatewidepoliticalorganizer.Priortothathe waswiththeUnitedFoodandCommercialWorkers Local876. • KatieGjertson,PoliticalCoordinator:Katieworkedat SEIUHealthcareMNonhealthcareissues.Previously, shewasthefielddirectorfortheMNAFL-CIO. •MaryScattarelli,RN,LaborRepresentative:Marywas astaffnurseinthetelemetryunitatAbbott NorthwesternHospitalinMinneapolisforabout20 yearsandanactiveMNAleader. •VangXiong,MembershipAssistant:Vangpreviously workedatAFSCMECouncil5asthemembership specialist.
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Stay connected to MNA after you retire
Retired MNA nurses ready to pitch in There’sanewadditiontotheMNAfamily:theCouncilofActiveRetiredNurses(CARn). It’sMNA’sneworganizationofretirednurses. “RetireesandstaffhavebeentalkingaboutkeepingnursesinvolvedinMNAafterthey’veretiredforsometime,”retireeSueKreitzsaid.“Wehaveagreatdealtooffercurrentmembers.Wehaveawealthofexperienceintheprofessionandtheunionmovementtoshare.” TheMNABoardofDirectorsstartedtheballrollingin2015bycallingforataskforcetodevelopplansforaretirees’organization. Retireeshavebeenmeetingoverthelastfewmonthsandputtogetheraplanforthenewgroup’sstructure,activities,andchangestoMNA’sbylawstoformallycreatethegroup.RecommendationsforchangestothebylawswillgototheHouseofDele-gatesforapproval. Theyarediscussingideasincludingmentoringnewnursesaboutthenursingpracticeandwhyunionsmatter.Retireesarealsothinkingaboutopportunitiestovolunteerforpoliticalandorganizingactivities,phonebanking,doorknocking,communityeventsandboards,internalandexternalorganizingdrives,andother. “We’vebeenactive,informed,hands-onnurseswithalotofvaluableexperiencetosharewithotherpeople–students,peoplethinkingofgoingintonursing,nursesinthefield,andtherestofsociety,”saidretireeLilOrtendahl.“Ifyouwanttomakechange,youhavetobeinvolved.Youhavetorollupyoursleevesandgetbusyandmakechange.Retireescandothat.” “Weneedtobeabletokeepintouchwithyoungerpeoplesowecangetthemtorealizethevalueofunions,”saidKreitz.“Wehavegreatconnectionstohelpyoungmembersapplyforandreceivevariousgrantsandscholarships.” Thetaskforcehasafewmoremeetingsscheduledyettowrapupplanning.Feelfreetojointhegroup,ifyou’reinterested.ThemeetingsareApril6andApril11,from10a.m.–2p.m.attheMNAofficeinSt.Paul.Ifyou’reinterestedingettinginvolvedwithCARn,contactSamanthaRiaziat(651)414-2885,(800)536-4662ext.185,[email protected].
You have many options to stay part of MNA after retirement.
1. Letusknowifyou’replanningtoretireinthenearfutureorhavealreadyretired. CallMNAMembershipat(800)536-4662toletusknowyourplans,sowecan helpyoustayinvolved. 2. Youcancontinueasamemberinseveralcategories.Membershipcanhelpyou decidewhichisbestforyou: a.Associatemembership(accesstoMNAforlimitedactivities); b.Honorarymembership(ifyou’veworkedfor25yearsandareover65); c.Non-collectivebargainingmembership. 3. Getinvolvedinthenewretireeorganization!
Union plusGet discounts on car tires
YourmembershipinMNAqualifiesyouforvaluable,dis-countedproductsandservicesthroughUnionPlus,likedis-countsoncarrepairsandservice. CheckoutallthesavingsUnionPlusprovidestounionmembersandfamiliesat www.unionplus.org.
CELEBRATE NURSINGNurses Week is May 6-12
CometoanOpenHouseattheMNAOfficeinSt.Paulon
May11,2016
Watch for details
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SenatorJohnMartyandIwereoftenthelonevoicesofcautionontheworkgroup,remindingpeopletolookatthetotalimpactofthesepaymentschemes.Wetriedtogetthegrouptoseetheneedtomakecaredeliverymorepatient-fo-cusedandevidence-based.Ultimatelyweweresuccessfulinredefining criteria that emphasize patient outcomes whenevaluating expansion or further implementation of thesemodelsinthefinalrecommendations. Asyourrepresentative,Imadeknownthatnurses’priori-tywhenitcomestoourhealthcaresystemistoinstitutestruc-turalsolutionsthatlookattheentirehealthcaresystemwhilekeepingourfocusonthepatient,notjustthebottomline.
Task force makes compassionate from page 3
Areyounewtothenursingprofessionorastudentnurse?MNAisheretohelpyou. MNAisreachingouttoyoungnursestomakesuretheyfeelwelcomeandpartoftheunion. Aspartofstrategicplanning in2015,theMNABoardofDirectorsmadeconnectingtoyoungnursesapriority. Asaresult,plansareintheworkstogetyoungnursesin-volvedinMNA,startingwithsomesocialeventstogetpeopletalkingandsharingwhatthey’dlikefromMNA. Watchforopportunitiestomeetotheryoungnursesandshareissuesthatareimportanttoyou. MNA is increasingoutreachtostudentnursesaspartofthisinitiative.InadditiontotheannualStudentDayontheHill,MNAmembersarespeakingtostudentnurseclassesandre-newingtieswiththeMinnesotaStudentNursesAssociation. MNAstaffattendedtheMSNA’sconventionthispastFeb-ruary,hostinglunchandsponsoringascholarship. Nursesandstaffwereonhand to speak to theapproxi-mately250studentnursestopromotetheStudentNursesDayontheHill,MNAFoundationscholarships,andwhatMNAasanorganizationdoesforstudents,nurses,andourpatients. MNAstaffmemberMathewKellerdeliveredabreakoutsessionpresentationto45nursingstudentsonhisalternativecareerchoiceinrepresentingnursesandthebenefitsofMNA. TheMinnesotaStudentNursesAssociationBoardthankedusforourparticipationandinvitedusbackin2017. Watchformoreinformationasplansarefinalized.Ifyou’dlike to get involved in anyof theseactivities, contact [email protected],or(651)414-2871.
MNA reaches out to young nurses
Nominate your colleagues for MNA Honors and awardsDeadline is July 15 Weallhavecolleagueswhogoaboveandbeyondforourpatientsandourcommunities. Takeamomenttogivethemsomemuch-deservedrecogni-tion:nominatethemforMNAhonorsandawards. MNA’sHonorsandAwardsrecognizetheachievementsanddedicationofmemberswhodeserveaspecial‘thankyou.’ They’llbehonoredatMNA’shonorsandawardsceremonyduringtheannualconventioninOctober. VisitMNA’swebsiteatwww.mnnurses.orgfordetailsabouteachawardandhowtonominateanunsunghero!Award categories •President’sAward •DistinguishedServiceAward •CreativeNursingAward •AudreyLogsdon/GeraldineWedelAward •RuthL.HassExcellenceinPracticeAward •NurseEducatorAward •PublicOfficialAward •SarahTarletonColvinPoliticalActivistAward •NurseResearcherAward •MentorshipinNursingAward •Paul&SheilaWellstoneSocialJusticeAward •ElizabethShogrenHealthandSafetyAward
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345 Randolph Ave., Ste. 200St. Paul, MN 55102
Official call to conventionMNA’s 111th Convention and House of Delegates is October 9-11, 2016, at the Radisson Blu in
Boomingtlon. Visit MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org for more information.
Submit proposals for resolutions, bylaw changes by July 15You are invited to submit proposals for changes to MNA’s resolutions and bylaws to the MNA Bylaws Committee. For details and forms, visit the Member Center in MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org.
