Explain how Unions Work in Nursing

[lam]

addendum to the above: putting a pt back in a wheel chair without wt. bearing is possible if there are no signs of a fx and even if you suspect there is you can still safely put them into bed if you know how.

[nursinghumor]

[ QUOTE ]
lam said:
I think you missed my point, I said leaving them on the floor for no reason once you have determined that they were not hurt that is, I have worked in LTC for many years and have never missed an obviouse injury

[/ QUOTE ]

When you say "you have determined that they were not hurt" does that mean you physically assessed the patient before returning them to bed?

From the LPN's reaction you described, it sounded like you didn't. And if not, then my statement still stands, it was wrong to move them.

There is no point "to miss" in that situation.

Does it sound like I'm one "who likes to find fault?" Well, yes if there are obvious flaws in the way a nurse practices that can cause harm to a patient.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[lam]

[ QUOTE ]
lam said:
That is putting it mildly. But, things are some what better than those days. I still feel like I have to battle all the time for pt. rights when I work in long term care. Then I get some nurses doing things just to aggravate me or to see if I am going to report them. I spend more time defending myself and the pts. and this is such a waste of time. One time I went to check on a pt that slipped out of her wheel chair, she was not hurt, alert, moving all extremities, no blood, no c/o pain, so I asked an aide to help me to put her back in the wheel chair. The LPN came and started yelling "you didn't check her" and then ran off to report me. Do they not teach nurses that the assessment starts with observation? Why would you leave an elderly person on the cold, hard floor for no reason? am I missing something here?

[/ QUOTE ]so sorry thought that was clear in the statement "she was not hurt, alert, moving all extremeties, no blood, no c/o pain" policy is that you would still observe for injuries that may not appear at the time but, that is a nursing judgment call, I made the assessment that she was not hurt period and then to move her. My point was not my ability to assess a pt but was the need to keep explaining my actions or my competence. If this LPN thought this she should have just asked me about it after all I was the RN and I am perfectly able to function as such and I welcome questions from any one if they do not understand something but I get a little tired of taking the time out to explain my actions at inapropriate times. I know where she was coming from I was once an LPN also if I had a problem with an RN I either discussed it with her or talked to her seperately. and I went to school to get the knowledge needed to function in that capacity. When I was an LPN I saw what some LPN's do to the RN deliberately. Not all LPN's just a few. It is better referred to as Harrassment and they pose a big liability for companies.

[ns lpn]

I think unions can be a wonderfull thing if people support it and are willing to attend mtgs voice opions and vote for a good representative. The union I'm in is made up of both RN's and LPN's those that belong benifit greatly from it and belive me we pay for it but at least it provides some job security allows us a say in what benifts we want and work conditions we tolerate...however unions don't make employers respect us more and sometimes people think because your in a union- its just a money issues. I've worked non-union places and I perfer to be unionized even if I have to pay a bit for it.

I think a downfall to being union is often the employer will look for loop-holes in contracts, I swear some of them know it better then the union members but this being said any loop-holes found can be changed the next time you enter negotiations. Unions are really only as good and united as their members and not all unions are created equally.

[gbf]

****o cchadwi.
I have been a member of the University of Michigan Prefessional Nurse Council since I became a staff nurse in 1991. We are represent 3500 RN's.
I came from a non represented hospital and work with many nurses who also have come here. Membership in this professional council is far and above the best representation that registered nurses can have. Through the mutual gains bargaining process we have virtually eliminatined mandatory overtime as a remedy for understaffing. We've gained rights to have 70% of our personal time off without question. Registered nurses across the country must realize the power that they have by bargaining for their rights and in turn the safety of their patients. Its difficult at first and we have evolved and continue to evolve our processes. What we have gained for all of our RN's is far greater than what one nurse can do alone. I don't feel the need to "vote with my feet" any longer. I have avenues where my views can be heard and my vote counted. We elect our officers and area representatives from our nursing ranks and they include, CRNA's, NP's, new grads and senior nurses from every area of practice, both outpatient and inpatient, adult and pediatric units.
The University of Michigan and the UMPNC have agreed to use the mutual gains bargaining process for problem solving in areas that could result in the discipline of an RN. These accomplishements weren't reached without struggle and committment by the nurses who went on strike to have a contract that was fair and represented the best for the RN's at the hospital in the late 1980's. We are affiliated with the ANA, American Nurses Association, and that's a great place to start if you want to know what organizations represent the professional nurse . I believe that a professional representative group can do much to promote our work as Registered Nurses. I urge you to become a member of the ANA even if you don't work in an area where you have representation, its a start.
Thanks,
GBF

[AnkhRNMSNphoenix]

I Believe a union, like any system of Organization if used correctly can bring about powerful change. As Nurses we do not have to worry about our jobs going out of the country. I am currently working with a union to bring about safer nurse to patient ratios in my state. The hospital that I work at is notorious for understaffing. Nurses are often in the position of choosing between their lunch times and finishing on time.The California Nurses Association (CNA) and their sister organization the National Nurses Oraganization Committee (NNOC) seem like they have a direction for helping frontline nurses. If you ever get into a union and you feel that that union is not serving the purpose of the worker you should first try and make changes within the union and then if that is not succesful,replace the union with one that shares the ideas of the people that they service.Nurses make up the largest population of healthcare force in our country and with that power comes a great responsibility as a driver of healthcare to promote better working conditions,salary and most importantly better patient care for all people. If you are not in a facility that has a union and you feel that you are being taken advantage of by your hospital or facility. Do research and find out who can help you to negotiate a fair contract, invite them to talk to nurses who feel the same. Learn the laws and know that federal law supercedes hospital policies.It's scary to be so agressive, at first but remember we are facing a shortage like none other and we deserve to be respected for what we contribute.WE ARE NO LONGER HANDMAIDENS OR MEDICALLY SUBSERVIENT. Nurses are independent healthcare practitioners, we don't have to take business people trying to use that smiley face stores model of business and apply it to healthcare.

[jenalberta]

I have some questions for you to think about. Perhaps you have experienced some of these situations. If not, consider yourself very lucky.

1. Has your shift ever been cancelled?
2. Has your rotation been changed by your manager within a 3 month time period without your consent?
3. Has your day off been changed without your consent?
4. Have your sick days ever been questioned?
5. Have you ever been made to work overtime?
6. Have you ever had to work alone?
7. Have you ever felt powerless against a harrassing boss or felt bullied?
8. Have you ever been looked over for a position which you truly believed you were the right candidate?
9. Have you ever been concerned about your safety or the safety of patients on your unit?
10. Have you ever had to look after too many patients which meant compromising care for others, or putting you in a potential litigious position?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, your Nursing Union could have and would have helped.

And No, I am not a Union organizer. I don't even belong to the Union anymore, as my management position is out of scope, but I sure value the work the union does for its members, and saw the difference when I was a member. Union dues are not significant. The benefits outway the costs 10:1 easily.

Jen

[FrIgHtNiGhT]

The reason we don't have nurse's unions in hospitals is the same reason we don't have socialized medical care: Greed. The citizens of this nation love their money too much and they don't want to pay taxes, union dues, whatever. (I know, the richest 1% own everything, so how can you blame the other ones who don't have any money for trying to hold onto it?) Easy: The reason we put up with the richest 1% constantly f*@king us is that we're too busy trying in vain to join them...

[SoldierNurse]

The reason we don't have nurse's unions in hospitals is the same reason we don't have socialized medical care: Greed. The citizens of this nation love their money too much and they don't want to pay taxes, union dues, whatever. (I know, the richest 1% own everything, so how can you blame the other ones who don't have any money for trying to hold onto it?) Easy: The reason we put up with the richest 1% constantly f*@king us is that we're too busy trying in vain to join them...

Be advised; I hope you can find happiness in your nursing path, but I'm growing weary of your unhappy demeanor here on UltimateNurse Forums. Aaron, aka shortbus is the Admin & I'm just one of his Mods. However, I strongly encourage you to use the Rubber Room Forum to vent off some steam, rather than here, or in the general discussion forums.

FYI; Some states [for example CA, WA] do have Unions that nurses may join.