Spring 2015 Volume 87 No. 1 FEATURE NEWS: Stand up to workplace violence Also in this Issue • MN study links nurse staffing to patient outcomes Page 5 • Hearing shines light on hospital harassment Page 7 • Nurses Day on the Hill 2015 Page 8 • Call for MNA elections Page 16 Page 2 Stand up to workplace violence People throughout Minnesota and the nation were shocked when they saw a video of the horrific patient attack on nurses at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood last November. They saw that nurses put their lives on the line every day. They saw the bravery of the nurses and other staff involved in that attack. MNA members know all too well the dangers of their jobs. Nurses are frequently physically and verbally assaulted by patients and visitors. Too often, nurses have dismissed those attacks as “part of the job.” MNA members are saying it’s time to change that mind set. Amy Schmidt, who was charge nurse the night of the St. John’s attack, says she was like many other RNs before that night. “I’ve been hit, I’ve been pinched, I’ve gone home with bruises,” said Schmidt. “At the time you say it’s minor, but it could be a sign that something more is going to happen.” Schmidt says the attack made her an activist: she needs to advocate for workplace safety so no one else goes through what she and her co-workers did last November. “I firmly believe that if you don’t speak up when things like this happen, no one will realize there is a problem and it won’t be addressed,” she told members at MNA’s Day on the Hill on Feb. 9. Gwynn Pepin, co-chair of the MNA RN bargaining unit at St. John’s, says workplaces need to have a plan in place to deal with situations safely. Rep. Joe Atkins has introduced a bill that addresses workplace safety issues. House File 1087 and its companion Senate File 1071 authored by Senator Chuck Wiger require each hospital in the state to develop a workplace violence prevention plan in coordination with registered nurses and other healthcare workers at the hospital and submit that plan to the state and local law enforcement. Each healthcare worker would be entitled to training on violence prevention and would be protected from retaliation for reporting incidents of violence. The state would begin to collect data on incidents of violence so we can all better understand how violence affects the workplace and how hospitals can better protect patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. “We need to stand up and say ‘no more,’” said Pepin. View a video featuring Schmidt and Pepin on MNA’s Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/user/mnnurses. 2 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 Minnesota Nursing Accent Minnesota Nurses Association 345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-414-2800/800-536-4662 Spring 2015 PUBLISHER Rose Roach MANAGING EDITORS Barb Brady Chris Reinke BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN 1st Vice President: Mary McGibbon, RN 2nd Vice President: Gail Olson, RN Secretary: Deb Haugen, RN Treasurer: Peter Danielson, RN Directors: Sandie Anderson, RN Elizabeth Binkert, RN Lori Christian, RN Kate Danielson, RN Patricia Dwyer, RN Stacy Enger, RN Katie Grams, LPN Diane Johnson, RN Carolyn Jorgenson, RN Kathleen Moore, RN Barb Martin, RN Judy Russell-Martin, RN Candy Matzke, RN Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Subscriptions Published: March, June, September, December Opinions All opinions submitted are subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse any advertising content which does not meet standards of acceptance of the Minnesota Nurses Association. Minnesota Nursing Accent (ISSN 0026-5586) is published four times annually by the Minnesota Nurses Association 345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200, Saint Paul, MN 55102. Periodicals Postage paid at Saint Paul, MN and additional mailing offices. Postmaster, please send address changes to: Minnesota Nurses Association 345 Randolph Avenue, Suite 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN Healthcare is a human right Gandhi once said, “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” How true and yet how ironic. A major component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the establishment of insurance “exchanges” that sell plans that would seem to reflect the value of an individual’s life based on what that individual can afford: a bronze, silver, gold or platinum plan. It seems America has figured out how to connect “gold and silver” to health. The ACA tackled a few of the profit-first health insurance industry’s most egregious abuses by eliminating their ability to refuse to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions or to create arbitrary “lifetime maximum” expenditures by the insurance company; and it allowed children to stay under a parent’s insurance plan until age 26. Most importantly, the ACA expanded eligibility for Medicaid, a government safety net that has been a lifeline for Americans who simply can’t afford “free market” healthcare. Even with those positive changes, the ACA is making very little difference in the lives of most people because there’s no change in the way we pay for healthcare. According to the Library of Congress’ Congressional Research Service, “Disparities in health create significant burdens on health care providers and on society. The costs to provide health care to a population are directly related to the general health of the resident population.” Good health is everything – it means you’re able to be a productive citizen and it increases your quality of life while positively impacting the quality of life for the entire community. By establishing a for-profit, market-driven system for healthcare, we have hindered our ability to share in good health. That doesn’t make good fiscal sense and it perpetuates a society that relegates us to blaming one another for a healthcare system that in itself is dysfunctional, fragmented, and dangerous. The question really is: who are we as a people? Who do we want to be? Under what government structure, what ideology, what religion, is it acceptable to let people suffer and die because they can’t afford health insurance? The healthcare debate has produced some very complex questions, arguments, and concerns; but the central issue isn’t really a technical one, it is a moral one. “By establishing a for-profit, market-driven system for healthcare, we have hindered our ability to share in good health.” Our elected officials need to see that healthcare is a public good. It is about protecting the public’s health and they must have the political will to invest in needed services for the whole population. And we do that by improving and expanding the healthcare system we already have in place that provides public financing for privately delivered care - and that system is Medicare. Medicare pools money and pays for healthcare directly; it pays for people to get the care they need when they need it; and is an efficient allocation of healthcare dollars because it removes the fragmentation and administrative waste that exists in our current system. On July 30, 2015, MNA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of Medicare and you’re invited. Please mark your calendars now and watch for details as we prepare to make the case for healthcare as a human right. May 7 MNA Open House for Nurses Week Education sessions, drawings, food, information on scholarships, mini pension workshops from 8 - 5 p.m. Metro Steward Meeting commencing from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Nominations for Pension Committee The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN The time is right by Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN The reason unions exist – and why we must fight for them – was driven home to me over four days in February. I listened to – and was a witness in – a National Labor Relations Board hearing into unfair labor practice charges filed against North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale for retaliating against union members who took part in an informational picket last June. The hospital’s actions were outrageous and mind-boggling. MNA and SEIU Healthcare MN filed unfair labor practice charges after the hospital fired one employee; revoked work agreements and forced loyal employees with more than 30 years at North Memorial to work weekends; and repeatedly interrogated and threatened staff about their union activities after they participated in informational picketing to draw attention to their concerns about unsafe staffing. The National Labor Relations Board held a hearing in February after issuing a formal complaint finding the hospital violated the National Labor Relations Act. See the story on Page 7 for more. At the hearing, MNA and SEIU Healthcare members and staff detailed just how the hospital retaliated against them – for exercising their legal rights to participate in a peaceful event to protest staffing plans that could endanger patient safety. Testimony showed just how vindictive the hospital was. Fortunately, MNA and SEIU Healthcare members have their unions to back them up so they can continue to speak up for patients and safe patient care. We must advocate for our patients everywhere we can – in our workplaces and in the public arena. It’s our right and responsibility as citizens in a democracy. Nurses have a long history of fighting for patients and social justice – let’s keep that tradition going! That includes talking to elected officials – legislators tell us over and over that they need to hear from nurses about important issues like safe patient staffing and workplace violence prevention. One way you can talk to them is by sharing your unsafe staffing reports. Your stories about chronic and persistent understaffing and the impact on patients are critical. It’s important to send the forms whether the situation is mitigated or not. Knowing what mitigated the unsafe staffing situation may help others in the future. And success deserves to be shared as well as concerns. When we share successes, we win. “We must advocate for our patients everywhere we can – in our workplaces and in the public arena.” 4 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 About 150 MNA members shared their stories with their legislators in person in February. The 2015 MNA Day on the Hill was a powerful experience for first-timers and for members who frequently talk to their elected officials. They found legislators were very receptive and welcoming. They want to listen to their constituents. They want to hear real-life examples of what’s going on in their districts and how to improve conditions. We followed our visits by giving more than 2,100 unsafe staffing reports to Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger. Members came away inspired and ready to keep advocating for their patients and the nursing profession because they saw they can make a difference. You can make a difference whether you attended Day on the Hill or not. Meet with your legislators and attend town hall meetings in your district. The more they know you, the more they understand what you stand for and why they need to stand up for nursing issues. Over more than 100 years, MNA has fought for the safety of our patients. We earned the public’s trust. People know we will advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves - that will never change. This was exemplified by the nurses in St. Paul and will be throughout Minnesota in the coming weeks and months. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Call for Nominations In November of 2015, you will be asked to vote for the leaders of your union, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Watch for the Call for Candidates form on the Member Portal in early April for your opportunity to submit your name to be placed on the ballot. You are strongly encouraged to consider running for a leadership position and become involved in making a difference in the future of the organization. MN study links nurse staffing to patient outcomes More nurses means better care. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) spent one year and $129,000 studying nurse staffing and patient outcomes and found “strong evidence” that correlates patient mortality, failures to rescue, and patient falls with poor staffing levels. “Nurses fought for this study at the Capitol in 2013 because they knew that a rigorous, objective study of nurse staffing would show patients do better when enough nurses are on duty,” said Linda Hamilton, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association. Hundreds of nurses came to the Capitol over the 2013 session to request legislators pass the Staffing Plan Disclosure Act, which Governor Mark Dayton signed. The law required the health department to commit to a two-year study, but also required hospitals to report their staffing plans and actual staffing to the state as well as on a public website. MDH also found “strong evidence” that other care process outcomes such as drug administration errors, missed nursing care, and a patient’s length of stay are linked to lower nurse staffing levels. Patients are more likely to get the wrong medication or medication too late as well MNA Organizational Goals and Priorities for 2015 MNA Mission Statement as stay longer in the hospitals where nurse staffing is low. “Frontline nurses are worried about their patients,” Hamilton said. “They have been telling their hospital managers and administrators that the quality of care isn’t the same when nurses are taking care of too many patients at one time. If you want patients to get better, you can’t cut corners on staffing.” Nurses are disappointed, however, because hospitals withheld information that the Minnesota Legislature directed them to provide. In response to the Legislature’s directive for a robust, Minnesota-focused analysis, hospitals agreed to provide MDH with data from a subset of hospitals. Only one bothered to even respond. “The hospitals rebuked nurses, patients, and legislators by refusing to supply vital information that could improve the quality of patient care and the very safety of patients,” Hamilton said. “Are they just unwilling to cooperate with a study they themselves agreed to with our lawmakers? Republicans and Democrats alike. Either way, shame on them.” MN Study cont. on Page 9 It’s as American as apple pie: taking an active role in our democracy. You can make a difference for safe staffing, workplace violence prevention, patient safety, and other important nursing issues – come to one of MNA’s Wednesday ‘mini lobby days.’ Small groups of nurses get together on Wednesdays through May 19 to visit their legislators in St. Paul to share stories and advocate for patients and nursing. Legislators listen when nurses talk – we’re the most respected profession in the country! Contact Geri Katz at [email protected] or Eileen Gavin at [email protected] to ‘adopt a Wednesday’ or for more information about having a voice in our democracy. 1.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. MNA Purpose The purpose of the Minnesota Nurses Association, a union of professional nurses with unrestricted RN membership, shall be to advance the professional, economic, and general well-being of nurses and to promote the health and well-being of the public. These purposes shall be unrestricted by considerations of age, color, creed, disability, gender, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation. MNA Strategic Goals 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.MNA exemplifies a positive, powerful union of professional nurses that advances nursing and patient interests. 3.MNA promotes effective RN staffing and safe 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. 2015 Organizational Priorities 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-friendly public policy, including safe staffing, 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, and advance safe patient staffing standards and principles. The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 5 LABOR ADVOCACY Deer River RNs ratify contract RNs at Essentia Health in Deer River will remember 2014 negotiations as the year of the “contraband cake.” Bargaining started last September when members served a cake decorated with the MNA logo to passers-by in an area near the hospital lobby to kick off negotiations. Administration asked them to leave and canceled the next day’s negotiating session. The “contraband cake incident” helped unite members who saw that a good contract is achievable only if they stood together. They ended up with a contract that improves compensation, stems the tide of RNs leaving for better-paying jobs in nearby hospitals, and strengthens union solidarity. Keys to the success of the contract ratified in January include keeping members up to date by phone, text, in person and on the member portal on MNA’s website; showing solidarity by wearing buttons and stickers, and many becoming stewards. In addition to having a good contract, the unit now has a better working relationship with Essentia. The hospital saw that it needed to invest in nurses in order to keep the hospital healthy and agreed to the contract. Grand Marais contract benefits RNs, patients Holding steadfast for what’s right paid off for RNs at Cook County North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais. The 20-member bargaining unit has a new contract, following a January 2015 arbitration ruling in favor of the nurses’ positions. “We got a good contract because we held fast to what we needed for everyone’s benefit,” said bargaining unit co-chair Cindy Woltman-Giles. “We said we deserve better and our patients deserve better.” “We weren’t going to settle for anything less for our patients or our members,” said co-chair Renee Benson. The two said the new contract will help retain staff. “Nurses want to stay here,” said Benson. “We love and care about the people we work with. One of the best and worst things about working at our hospital is that our patients and co-workers are our friends, neighbors, and relatives. We have a personal investment with these people.” MNA members built a relationship with the newly formed SEIU Healthcare unit, which represents other staff at the hospital. The bargaining teams met jointly to discuss mutual support in negotiations and going forward. “They settled their contract before we did,” said Woltman-Giles. “It was nice to see we had a lot of the same issues.” The two groups will continue to work together in the future to create a united front. Thief River Falls RNs help the needy MNA members in Thief River Falls help out at a local soup kitchen and call attention to the need for security personnel at their hospital on Dec. 16. 6 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 MNA WE supports ARE ONE SEIU Healthcare MNA members wore “WE ARE ONE” stickers to show support for metro SEIU Healthcare Minnesota members as they fought for safe staffing, work-life balance, and health and safety in their contract negotiations this winter. In February, all hospitals except Allina reached a TA. SEIU Healthcare’s efforts to advance working conditions, to respect seniority rights, as well as to provide livable wages and benefits sharply contrasted with management’s proposals to move back in time. Management sought dramatic take-backs, including the elimination of guaranteed medical leave and changes to insurance benefits for part-time workers. In 2010 bargaining, MNA nurses saw their employers make many of the same proposals that Twin Cities SEIU members saw in negotiations the year before. It is likely that the proposals we see in 2016 bargaining will contain many of the same concessions that SEIU fought this year. By standing together, we can send a message to hospitals that they should not make their profits on the backs of the workers. We can tell management that it’s time to move forward by improving working conditions and that we will stand together with SEIU Healthcare members in their contract negotiations new and in future years. LABOR ADVOCACY NLRB hearing shines light on hospital harassment Testimony by MNA and SEIU Healthcare MN members and staff paint a disturbing picture of how hospitals retaliate against staff for engaging in legally protected concerted activities. The testimony came at a National Labor Relations Board hearing in February on charges that North Memorial Medical Center of Robbinsdale intimidated and harassed union members who participated in a June 2014 informational picket drawing attention to potentially unsafe staffing conditions. One by one, North Memorial staff took the witness stand to detail how the hospital engaged in illegal activities after the June 2014 picket. The hospital fired one employee, revoked work agreements and forced employees to work weekends, repeatedly interrogated staff about their union activities, warned employees and union staff that talking about unions was prohibited and threatened to file charges if discussions continued. The four-day hearing was the result of unfair labor practice charges that MNA and SEIU Healthcare filed against the hospital in the summer and fall of 2014. Following an investigation, the NLRB issued a complaint finding North Memorial engaged in a pattern of harassment and retaliation against hospital staff for their participation in the picketing. The judge who heard the case will issue a decision after reviewing post-hearing briefs. A mix of traditional and new tactics win contract in Red Wing MNA members at Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing ratified a new contract in February, after several months of traditional solidarity activities and taking advantage of electronic communications. It was the first time all members were so involved in negotiations. They wore stickers and red scrubs, packed meet and greet events to support their team, presented a petition signed by nearly all members, showed up at negotiating sessions to speak out against management concessions, and a large group of staff nurses met with the CNO to deliver the message that it was time for the hospital to compromise and settle the contract. “It was a surprise to the hospital,” Bargaining Team member Stacey Phelps said. “They didn’t expect us to be so united and solid.” Members’ voices were heard from the beginning, with meetings where leaders met with nurses in the cafeteria. Members voted for the bargaining team and submitted issue forms to generate proposal ideas. The election was followed up with a survey to establish the top issues for the negotiations. “This agreement reflects the true democratic process,” Bargaining Team member Bev Mancilman said. “We made sure the members’ top priorities were in the new contract. The majority spoke and we listened.” They also kept members up to date on negotiations progress, mainly through electronic communications, and “lunchtime rounding” on negotiation days. A private Facebook page was popular with members, who could find updates any time of the day. “That’s where members said they got their information,” Bargaining Team member Greg Miller said. “We also texted and emailed members to spread the word about what was happening, and to get nurses to show up to actions.” The new contract includes a wage scale that exceeds Metro wages, a hard cap on mandatory low census, retains the incentive pay system, and requires Mayo to negotiate nurses’ choice of color and print for their scrubs in the next contract. Affiliations strengthen all MNA is now affiliated with five of the six Minnesota AFLCIO local labor councils. The MNA Board of Directors voted to affiliate with more councils earlier this year. “Affiliations make us stronger,” said MNA Executive Director Rose Roach. “Unions are under attack as never before, and we must all stand together.” MNA has affiliates at the local, state, and national levels. On the state level, MNA is affiliated with the Minnesota AFLCIO. MNA members sit on the AFL-CIO’s executive council, help set legislative priorities, and stay in tune with everyone’s labor struggles. MNA is affiliated with the National Nurses United, which advocates for patients and nurses on the national level. MNA members are encouraged to get involved with the local labor councils as well. “They work on issues in their local communities,” said Roach. “MNA members can work cooperatively with the local councils on labor issues and volunteer opportunities as united community leaders.” MNA needs to participate in the full house of labor at all levAffiliations strengthen all cont. on Page 15 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 7 AT THE CAPITOL Nurses Day on the Hill 2015 MNA members took their advocacy for their patients from the bedside to the State Capitol at the annual Day on the Hill in February. About 150 RNs from all corners of Minnesota came to St. Paul to meet directly with their legislators to explain why a Safe Patient Standard and workplace violence prevention legislation, among others, are desperately needed. MNA members told their personal stories of instances where patient safety was threatened because of understaffing, and times when they were subjected to workplace violence themselves. They crowded into a room at the Minnesota Department of Health to deliver more than 2,100 ‘valentines’ – Concern for Safe Staffing Forms filed in 2014 documenting situations where patients were at risk due to low staffing levels. Dozens of RNs lined up to share their stories at an emotional meeting with Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger. “We are bringing these valentines from nurses on day shift, night shift, holiday shift, weekends,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton. “Here’s proof that we need more nurses. We want to do what’s best for our patients.” “The hospitals aren’t giving you the information you need, so we will,” said oncology nurse Theresa Peterson, RN at North Memorial Hospital. “When (cancer) patients need medications, it’s an hourly thing. So if you have five other patients, they don’t get seen.” Commissioner Ehlinger promised that he and his staff would read the forms and use them to inform their policy discussions. Day on the Hill 2015 kicked off with remarks from MNA and National Nurses United leaders. NNU Public Policy Director Michael Lighty brought the national perspective, urging MNA members to use their “passionate commitment” for their patients when advocating for change at the state and national levels to “transform our country.” St. John’s Hospital nurse Amy Schmidt spoke publicly for the first time about the patient attack on nurses on her unit last November. She described how the attack unfolded and how it changed the lives of everyone involved. Schmidt said every hospital should have a plan to deal with crises. “I urge all nurses to get involved and stop thinking that workplace violence is part of our jobs. It is not.” Rep. Joe Atkins told members their voices do make a difference. “There’s not a legislator who doesn’t respect what you do. You have a case to make.” He promised to fight for safe patient staffing and workplace violence prevention legislation. 8 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 “Every action we take, no matter how small – every conversation, email, letter, text, phone call, tweet, Facebook post, voting in elections - is a step toward protecting unions, our patients, our communities and our profession,” MNA President Linda Hamilton told members. “Your presence here this week and your activism back home – are the key to our success.” MNA Executive Director Rose Roach said nurses must get involved at the Capitol to “change the formula of profits over patients to patients over profits. The public knows that healthcare has become a profit-first industry, but we also know that they trust nurses more than any other profession. We are the best people to push back on corporate healthcare and stand up for the delivery of high-quality, affordable, accessible healthcare for all to ensure people get the health care they need, not just what they can afford.” AT THE CAPITOL Nursing students get early start on activism Future nurses learned the importance of advocating for patients in the public arena as well as at the bedside at MNA’s Student Day on the Hill Feb. 25. About 400 nursing students and staff from all corners of Minnesota came to St. Paul to talk to their legislators about nursing issues after hearing from MNA members and former lawmakers about the importance of activism. It was the first time many had heard about the connection between politics and nursing. “We do have a voice – just a phone call or email makes a difference,” said one student nurse. The nursing students also learned the importance of unions and what MNA does for the profession and patient care. MN Study from Page 5 Even without the granular data needed for a robust study, MDH researchers still were able to review documentation and literature from respected researchers that showed strong correlations between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Clearly, patients need nurses to be there to ensure medication is administered properly and on time as well as monitor and assess them to rescue them and prevent falls. “Thanks to the Minnesota Department of Health, we know that patient safety and patient care is an issue in Minnesota. If we’re committed to quality care in Minnesota, we have to act,” Hamilton said. “We can no longer say nurses don’t play a part in a patient’s recovery.” The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 9 MNA MEMBERS IN ACTION MNA member makes a difference in Liberia Every nurse should take the opportunity to do volunteer work overseas – you help people, you gain insight into other cultures and you meet the nicest people. That’s according to Dan Shindelar, an RN at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul who recently spent six weeks in Liberia working directly with Ebola patients at an Ebola Treatment Unit in Bong County, and then working with people in communities “in the bush” in River Cess County. He first went to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, then to Bong County where he and other volunteers received PPE training and worked with Ebola patients in a “hot zone (confirmed Ebola cases).” “No hot water, no paved roads, you pretty much ate rice for every meal,” he said. “We had three days of training and then four days working in an Ebola Treatment Unit in a hot zone.” Dan says the personal protective equipment – what he calls space suits - were extremely uncomfortable and hot. It was 85 degrees and 85% humidity. “I poured sweat out of my boots and had a difficult time keeping the goggles from fogging over,” he said. “I was never in a suit more than two hours.” The protocol for donning and doffing the suits was very meticulous, so caregivers felt safe. It took 15 minutes, two people, three pairs of gloves, a hood, mask and goggles to get into a suit. Caring for Ebola patients in the suits is a “hard way to be a nurse,” said Dan. “You really feel removed from your patient. Then to step on the other side and look at what it’s like from their perspective. The thing that came to me – it must have felt to them like aliens landed and took people away and they don’t come back.” There wasn’t a lot caregivers could do for their patients. “The only thing we could do was isolate and support symptoms,” he said. “And hope the body can get through that.” They did blood draws and IVs. There were few pain- or fever-reducing medications - few medications of any type. Dan also did ambulance runs to pick up people on twotrack roads, “Until you see someone on the side of the road – you get out and talk to them, keeping a safe distance.” The hardest part was seeing the children in either confirmed or suspected wards. “You try to figure a way to allow them to be kids,” Dan 10 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 said. “There’s nothing for them to do.” He brought soccer balls and coloring books for them. It was especially hard because he was in a “space suit” and didn’t seem human to the children. “They’re sleeping on plastic mattresses with two buckets for toilet facilities,” he said. Nurses could be with a patient no more than two hours, in which time they hurried to hook up IVs to rehydrate patients, give them medication, food, and rehydration drinks, and provide as much comfort as possible. “I have lots of empathy for how scary it must have been for the patients,” he said. I had to endure the heat and protocols, but the patients were there for days.” Dan then went to a village seven hours away where Doctors Without Borders had shut down its Ebola treatment unit, declaring the area Ebola-free. Dan and others did contact tracing and education there. Dan lived in the village for three weeks, making friends and learning to appreciate their culture. “We had a local driver and a company-provided Land Cruiser,” Dan said. “We went to 13 clinics to survey what they had, how they did Ebola training, and asking what they needed. We had no maps; the drivers knew the roads, which consisted of narrow two-tracks, so drivers were constantly beeping their horns to warn other locals walking or riding motorcycles they were near. There were probably 1,000 people in that village in 15 houses. No one owned a vehicle of any kind. To get cell phone reception, I had to walk 15 minutes up a hill to get spotty reception.” Dan says people welcomed him with open arms and made him feel part of the family. “I saw the difficulty of the conditions they lived in, how family- and community-oriented they are. They had nothing there you or I would recognize, but they had happy lives.” Dan says he’ll continue to volunteer overseas, and he believes all nurses should too. “I do feel I made a difference,” he says. “I grew a lot myself in understanding conditions of the world while helping people. It’s shocking how much we have that we don’t really need.” MNA MEMBERS IN ACTION Climate change is a nursing issue Climate change is causing major health problems around the world, and nurses need to join the fight to curtail the harm it’s causing. That’s what MNA member Lara Norkus-Crampton took away from the international People’s Climate Summit she attended in Peru in December. She was part of a delegation of NNU nurses who traveled to Peru to discuss climate change as a major public health crisis. Norkus-Crampton, an RN at Methodist Hospital, met with other activists from around the world on climate change and health, including members of the Peruvian Federation of Nurses; and marched with nearly 250,000 others activists to call for climate justice. “The signs are clear,” Norkus-Crampton said. “A global climate crisis is here and nurses need to do more than watch. We need to be part of the solution, get involved and do whatever we can to prevent any more damage to our environment and people.” According to NNU, more than 8 million deaths around the world are blamed on air pollution; and warming temperatures have accelerated the spread of many diseases like Ebola, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and Lyme Disease. Norkus-Crampton said nurses “add the voice of conscience. You have to speak up and show that something hurts people and demand change.” Some of the highlights of the summit included meeting activists from unions and the environmental movement from around the world. “We need to make sure we don’t see this as a dilemma that can’t be changed because it’s too hard,” she said. “At the summit, we agreed to go back to our communities and start addressing climate change locally. We need to treat resources as finite – not infinite. Start with what’s doable right now, like recycling and composting to reduce emissions and pollution.” Since returning home, Norkus-Crampton has been doing just that. She is working on zero waste personally and in the community. “In my opinion, we can’t afford to just wait for the U.N. or Congress to do something while climate changes are accelerating,” she said. “We all need to do our part to do what we can now to make a difference – starting in our own backyards.” Duluth nurse takes ‘incredible opportunity to serve’ Duluth nurse Danielle Rodgers doesn’t know where she’s going, doesn’t know what she’s doing, but she can’t wait to get there. The St. Luke’s float pool nurse expects to set sail in April for Central America as part of the RNRN program. RNRN, which sends nurses to help disaster victims, is aiding Project Hope to give routine but rare medical care to populations in Belize, Guatemala, Jamaica, and other third-world nations. Rodgers will be on one of the two hospital ships in the Navy’s fleet, the ships Comfort and Mercy. “We’re not walking into a disaster zone,” Rodgers said. “We’re still serving a great population in need. You shouldn’t have to wait for a disaster to go help people. There’s so much need. Anything anybody can do to help will be appreciated.” Rodgers leaves in early April and returns in the first week of May. She’s set to leave for the ship from a port in Miami. She said she’s been slotted as a med/surg nurse to help post-op patients or adult medical patients. She has a degree in public health and also hopes to be able to do some public health teaching while she’s there. “These are high priority regions,” Rodgers said. “In Belize, the percent of practitioners is really low. There are very few doctors and a lot of people in need.” According to the World Bank, Belize has .8 doctors and 1.96 nurses per 1,000 people. By comparison, the US has 2.49 doctors and 9.6 nurses per 1,000 people. Other Central American nations have so few medical professionals, the ratio can’t even be calculated. Rodgers said she was moved by some of the patients she saw helped by Project Hope. One of those stories included the effect of a relatively simple surgery on a little girl who was born with six fingers and six toes. “That’s the stuff I want to see. Stuff that transforms people’s lives. That little girl would’ve been an outcast for the rest of her life,” Rodgers said. “But it will be more of a life-changing experience for me than the people we serve. “People ask me ‘Why go there?’ and I say ‘Why not?’ Why wouldn’t I want to do that? And you should too. It’s so easy to do,” Rodgers said. “It’s a chance to help people who have nothing. It’s just an incredible opportunity to serve.” The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 11 HEALTH & SAFETY Health and Safety Committee Update From Ebola to a patient attack on nurses at St. John’s Hospital, the health and safety of healthcare workers has been in the headlines in the last few months. MNA’s Health and Safety Committee is working to make sure Minnesota nurses have safe work environments on several fronts. Ebola Ebola may have fallen out of the headlines, but the disease is not gone and we know other infectious diseases will arise in the future. We must learn the lessons from last year and be prepared for that next threat. MNA and NNU raised the national consciousness for the need for optimal personal protective equipment and ongoing training for healthcare workers treating patients with Ebola and other infectious diseases, and we are not letting up. Several Minnesota RNs went to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta to observe and learn the specific protocols they use when taking care of Ebola patients. Emory is one of the top care centers for Ebola patients in the U.S. They learned a great deal and will share it with MNA members in the near future. MNA’s website www.mnnurses.org has an Ebola toolkit for any members looking for more information. Workplace violence prevention MNA has been a leading advocate for workplace violence prevention legislation for many years. The bill introduced by Rep. Joe Atkins and others has very strong language to address the workplace violence that has been so prevalent in our workplaces. Please be ready to respond to calls to support this important bill as it moves through the Legislature. Everyone needs to understand that workplace violence “is not part of the job.” You can read more about this bill and workplace safety on Page 2. MNA will offer education opportunities later this year. Some Minnesota hospitals, including Fairview Riverside in Minneapolis, have response teams to assist any staff member who has been injured on the job. The Peer to Peer Response Team offers emotional help at the time of the incident as well as later. Please contact Candy Matzke at [email protected] for further information or if you are interested in starting this program in your facility. If you’d like more information about workplace violence prevention, consider attending a workshop on Innovative Approaches to the Management of Aggressive Behaviors in Healthcare. It’s May 11, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. The deadline to register is May 6 and the cost is $99. Details are online at www.centracare.com/events. RN Health Patient health depends on nurses’ health. We need to stay healthy! Eat healthy, drink plenty of fluids, meditate for five minutes on your break, do yoga, exercise, and get enough rest. It’s easier said than done, but it’s very important for all of us! Candy Matzke Director, MNA Board of Directors MNA Health & Safety Committee Nurses Peer Support Network assists nurses in recovery Minnesota nurses have a new resource to help them deal with addiction and substance use disorder issues. The Nurses Peer Support Network offers support for nurses living with the disease of addiction. MNA member Kayla Benzinger is a founding member of the new nonprofit, which provides peer support group meetings around the state, education, and outreach. “Minnesota didn’t have a peer network until now,” Benzinger said. “Other states offer peer programs, and it seemed that Minnesota should do something too.” Benzinger and the other founders researched other states’ networks as they developed Minnesota’s NPSNetwork. “Our main focus is to reach out to nurses and let them know we’re available,” she said. “It’s a place for nurses to talk to other nurses so they can help each other.” The 2014 MNA House of Delegates adopted a resolution supporting the NPSNetwork and the Board of Directors donated $10,000 to expand and continue this much-needed program. 12 The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 Peer support groups are meeting in four locations in Minnesota and plan to expand as needed. The network is looking for nurses to volunteer to be on committees and the board of directors. Visit www.npsnetwork-mn.org for more information and how to apply for committee and board positions. “It’s time that we as a profession start taking care of ourselves, and each other,” Benzinger said. “Our fellow nurses will continue to suffer alone unless we make sure they know they are not alone, and we will support them in their recovery, just as we would provide support if they had diabetes or cancer. Change needs to start within our profession. Lives depend upon it.” Member Survey Committee Update In 2013, MNA’s House of Delegates passed a Resolution calling for a survey of MNA’s members to evaluate member satisfaction. The survey was conducted in August and September 2014 in two formats: a scientific phone poll conducted by an independent polling agency that polled a randomly drawn representative sample of 500 MNA members; and an online survey open to all members who did not participate in the phone poll. 296 members participated in the online survey. After reviewing the results from both the phone survey and the online survey, the Committee identified six key areas they recommended the MNA Board of Directors further address in an effort to improve members’ overall satisfaction. The Committee members agreed that anything under a 70% overall rating was the cutoff point for being further addressed as an organization. These six areas are: 1. Communications with members 2. Workplace, grievance, and contract 3. NNU 4. Education 5. Healthcare 6. Local leaders The Member Survey Committee has provided initial recommendations to the MNA Board. The Board will review these recommendations and assign them to appropriate MNA member and staff groups. A progress report will be provided at the 2015 House of Delegates. MNA Member Survey Committee Sandie Anderson Lori Christian Stacy Enger Carolyn Jorgenson Barb Martin Candy Matzke Mary McGibbon Gail Olson 2015 Honors & Awards Nominations Deadline is July 15 Honor your co-workers who go above and beyond for patients and the nursing profession. Nominate them for MNA honors and awards. We all know a registered nurse who is an outstanding practitioner, an inspiring educator or mentor, an unfailing supporter of nurses in collective bargaining, who models leadership, or is a researcher who has made a real difference for patients. MNA’s Honors and Awards recognizes the achievement and dedication of members who deserve a special ‘thank you.’ They’ll be honored at MNA’s honors and awards ceremony during the annual convention in October. Visit MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org for details about each award and how to nominate an unsung hero! Have a Voice in MNA Join a committee or commission and shape our union Several have openings right now, including: • Commission on Nursing Practice and Education • Commission on Governmental Affairs • MNA Foundation • Membership/Organizing Committee • Committee on Elections • Health and Safety Committee • Honors and Awards Committee The functions and responsibilities of each group are explained in MNA’s bylaws; or you can contact the MNA office at 800-536-4662 for more information. The terms of all committees and commissions expire December 31, 2015. If you are interested in being appointed to one of these groups, please contact Julie Kinsel at [email protected]. The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 13 MNA Bylaws and Resolutions We are inviting you at this time to submit proposals for Resolutions and changes to the MNA Bylaws. The MNA House of Delegates will convene October 4-6 this year to consider these proposals. Bylaws spell out the rules by which the Minnesota Nurses Association governs itself. They spell out the powers of the House of Delegates, the Board of Directors, and other structural units. In addition, they include rules regarding membership criteria and conducting our elections. A Resolution is a formal expression of an opinion to be adopted by the organization. The deadline for any individual member or structural unit to submit their proposals in writing to MNA is 11:59 p.m. on July 15, 2015. Guidelines for Submission of Proposals: Proposals must be accompanied by a statement of rationale which explains the reasons why it is deemed to be of significance and explains anticipated consequences for the Association, the profession, and the public. If the proposal is to amend a House of Delegates Policy or position of the Association, the statement of rationale should identify the current policy or position to be amended or, in the case of a Bylaw change, the Article and Section of the MNA Bylaws. Resolutions must deal with one topic and be accompanied, when appropriate, by an action plan in sufficient detail to allow a financial impact statement to be determined. It shall also include citations for facts and figures referenced. Once the July 15 deadline has passed, the Bylaws Committee will review the amendments submitted for the MNA Bylaws and the Reference Committee will review the Resolutions for completeness. Forms for making your submissions can be found on the Member Portal under the “Forms” tab. If you have any questions regarding submitting a Bylaw amendment or Resolution, please contact Julie Kinsel ([email protected]) or Rose Roach ([email protected]) at MNA. Reminder: The deadline for receipt of Resolutions or amendments to the MNA Bylaws for consideration at this year’s House of Delegates is 11:59 p.m. on July 15, 2015. For details and forms, visit MNA’s website at www.mnnurses.org. Looking For Education Opportunities? Take advantage of the free continuing education classes MNA offers members. Learn the latest in nurse practice, leadership, and advocating for your profession and patients. APRIL APRIL 7 23 THURSDAY APRIL 2 Willmar 8:00 - 3:15 Unsafe Assignments 8:15 - 10:15 Representing Members 10:30 - 12:30 Mobilizing Members 1:00 - 3:00 Willmar TUESDAY APRIL 7 D: Leadership 11:00 - 6:15 MNA Leadership 11:15 - 1:15 Staffing and Scheduling 1:45 - 3:45 Charge Nurse 4:00 - 6:00 MNA St. Paul Office THURSDAY APRIL 23 A: Advocacy 8:00 - 3:15 Representing Members 8:15 - 10:15 Step-One Grievances 10:30 - 12:30 Mobilizing Members 1:00 - 3:00 MNA St. Paul Office 2 14 APRIL The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 MAY 6 MAY 13 WEDNESDAY WEDNESAY MAY 6 MAY 13 Bemidji C: Mobilizing 8:00 - 3:15 11:00 - 6:15 Representing Members Mobilizing Members 8:15 - 10:15 11:15 - 1:15 New Hire Orientation New Hire Orientation 10:30 - 12:30 1:45 - 3:45 Mobilizing Members Safe Patient Standards 1:00 - 3:00 4:00 - 6:00 Bemidji Coon Rapids MAY 29 FRIDAY MAY 29 A: Advocacy 8:00 - 3:15 Representing Members 8:15 - 10:15 Step-One Grievances 10:30 - 12:30 Mobilizing Members 1:00 - 3:00 MNA St. Paul Office Affiliations strengthen all from Page 7 els, according to Roach. “If we believe in the middle class and we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats – then we have to be part of rising that tide and help all working families. We can only do that by standing united with our union brothers and sisters everywhere.” MNA says goodbye to Finance Director John Lose When John Lose became MNA’s first finance director in 1986, MNA had 8,000 members, 18 employees, and paperwork was on real paper. When John retired after 28 years this past February, MNA had 20,000 members, 55 employees, and most transactions had become electronic. MNA has changed in many ways in the last 28 years, but John says members’ passion for their patients and their profession has been a constant. “It’s been such an honor working for Minnesota nurses,” he said. “They are so dedicated to nursing, social justice and caring for each and every patient.” John says his proudest accomplishment is simplifying the dues structure, which had become very complicated over the years. “Most nurses don’t realize how complex it was,” he said. The streamlined dues structure makes it simpler for members and staff alike. Under John’s leadership, MNA also moved to better accommodations, maintained healthy finances, and invested in the future. “If the organization decided to put money somewhere, my role was to make sure the funds were there,” he said. John’s philosophy has been that if finances are not a major topic at the Board of Directors, everything is running smoothly and he’s doing his job well. “John has kept MNA financially strong over the years and he’s leaving the organization in a strong position for the future,” said MNA Executive Director Rose Roach. John says he’s also witnessed MNA moving from a “professional association that had to do collective bargaining as an afterthought” to a full union that’s proud of what we do and being part of the union movement. “Over the years, I have learned there is one certainty at MNA: John Lose will keep the books and members’ dues will be used to advance our mission,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton. “His talent and devotion to our mission and our members were evident in all he did. He will be sorely missed.” John’s hopes for MNA’s future: “Keep fighting the fight. Don’t give up. It’s worth it.” Welcome MNA’s newest staff members Matthew Burris, Organizer Cynthia Campos, Human Resources Manager Molly Henderson, Labor Relations Specialist Michael Koehler, Organizer Corey Mortensen, Director of Finance Tim Olson, Labor Relations Specialist Laura Sayles, Governmental Affairs Specialist Bill Spartz, Labor Relations Specialist Beth Williams, Labor Relations Specialist Share a smile! Nursing isn’t always serious. There are humorous and heartwarming moments as well. Share those stories with your colleagues around Minnesota – send them to Accent and we’ll publish them in our new ‘Quips and Quotes’ section. Email them to [email protected] Official Call to Convention MNA’s 110th Convention and House of Delegates is October 4-6, 2015, in Bloomington Watch the Member Portal for more information coming soon. Correction The Winter Accent misspelled the name of Elizabeth Shogren in the convention recap. We apologize for the error. The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 15 345 Randolph Ave., Ste. 200 St. Paul, MN 55102 OFFICIAL CALL TO CONVENTION MNA’s 110th Convention & House of Delegates is Oct. 4–6, 2015 Call for Nominations In November of 2015, you will be asked to vote for the leaders of your union, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA). Watch for the Call for Candidates form on the Member Portal in early April for your opportunity to submit your name to be placed on the ballot. You are strongly encouraged to consider running for a leadership position and become involved in making a difference in the future of the organization. The Minnesota Nursing Accent Spring 2015 16
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