Blog

I Dreamed About My Cancer Docs Last Night

My sleep was restless last night except for the snippets of scenes where I was being tended to by my cancer doctors from some time ago. In those dreams they cared for my body and comforted my fears as we worked together to overcome my illness. Of course time had changed things a bit and their offices were interwoven with the sweet things only dreams can infuse, but it sure was nice to revisit a time in my medical life when the system was even a little less broken than it is today. Don’t get me wrong, the bills were crushing then and some of the barriers daunting, but the slide to an even more difficult healthcare system for patients and our providers continues and deepens.

NNU Blog by Donna Smith

RNs Applaud San Francisco Supervisors’ decision to take closer look at Sutter/CPMC Proposal

RNs with California Nurses Association/National Nurses United who attended the San Francisco Supervisors meeting Tuesday night are glad city officials are taking a closer look at the Sutter/California Pacific Medical Center’s controversial building project in the city.

CNA Blog

Thanksgiving for Hurricane Sandy RN Relief Efforts

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are truly grateful for the dedication of our volunteers. Currently, these efforts are being handled by local organizations, with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) taking a key leadership role. If volunteers from out of the local area are needed, we will contact you. The affected RNs and patients are incredibly grateful for your continued support.

NNU Blog

National RN Updates: Florida, Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri

Florida Nurses Welcome First Contract, Illinois Jackson Park Chicago RNs Win First Hospital Contract, California RNs Reach Agreement with Sutter CPMC & St. Luke, Michigan MNA President, Jeff Breslin on Right To Work, Missouri Nurses Push for “Safe Patient Handling” Law HB 856, and more.

National Nurses United

Dignity Shows Respect for Nurses in New Contract

Nurses with Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest hospital systems, just settled a four-year master contract covering about 12,000 RNs in California and Nevada that not only keeps everything they had, but actually makes improvements in salaries, expands retiree health and pension benefits, and even establishes a new insurance program to protect nurses in case of needle sticks on the job or other work injuries.

California Nurses Association

NURSE TALK RADIO: Charles Idelson Demystifies Hospitals Price Gouging

An epidemic of sky-rocketing medical costs has afflicted our country and grown to obscene proportions. Listen, as Nurse Talk Radio Executive Producer Pattie Lockard talks with National Nurses United Communications Director Chuck Idelson about disturbing new data on hospital price gouging and what consumers can do.

Nurse Talk Radio

High-Tech Health Gadgetry: Not All That Glitters Is Gold

We’ve launched a national campaign intended to emphasize the point that all that glitters is not gold. Our campaign describes a number of changes occurring in healthcare delivery at the bedside that RNs believe are putting patients at risk. These include the premature discharge of patients to other settings, including the home, where the burden for care falls entirely on family members.

Deborah Burger, RN

A Tax on Wallstreet Goes Beyond Treating the Symptom

With President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union speech Tuesday night expected to include calls for higher taxes on capital gains and closure of assorted tax breaks for the 1 percent – on the heels of the recent proposal by Representative Chris Van Hollen, the second top ranked Democrat in the House, for revenue enhancements including a version of a tax on Wall Street – it’s clear the campaign for tax justice is making traction in Washington.

Robin Hood Tax

Video: An Interview with Malinda Markowitz

One of the least reported problems in U.S. hospitals is the placement of patients in “observation” status, where they can be held for hours or days with less public oversight and fewer protections.

Pattie Lockard, Nurse Talk Radio

What. A. Night. In. Vegas.

Thousands of nurses tuned into the first debate for the Democratic presidential nomination and to cheer on our endorsed candidate, Bernie Sanders. Before the big event, more than 200 RNs joined 200 other supporters and marched in Vegas, sending the message to the world that Bernie is the best choice for our country.

National Nurses United