Registered nurses and other community leaders will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid Thursday July 30 with a rally and lobby day in Washington DC. The celebration is part of a national day of action, in over 25 U.S. cities, that calls on policy makers to protect, improve, and expand Medicare to cover all Americans with a single standard of quality care not based on ability to pay. The overall theme is "Medicare is as American as Apple Pie," i.e. to Protect, Improve and Expand (PIE) Medicare to cover everyone.

National Nurses United joins with the AFL-CIO and activists across the U.S. in urging all Presidential candidates to address to the pervasive problems of racial and economic justice that have so stained our nation.

Registered nurses will hold an informational picket outside Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae Wednesday morning to alert area residents about their concerns over issues they say affect patient and workplace safety.

Registered nurses that work for Contra Costa County will hold an informational picket on Monday July 20, to call attention to the County's failure to properly invest in its health care system and address unsafe patient care conditions.

In response to the announcement that the Daughters of Charity Health System has selected BlueMountain Capital Management as a buyer for its six hospital system, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United today said it will press Blue Mountain and DCHS to keep open all the hospitals, retain current patient services, and honor the collective bargaining rights and current standards for DCHS employees.

Registered nurses at three hospitals operated by the Providence Health and Services chain reached a tentative contract settlement early Wednesday with hospital officials at three Los Angeles area hospitals that they say addresses key concerns about staffing and pay equity.

Registered nurses will join actions in over 25 U.S. cities July 30 to honor Medicare and Medicaid's 50th anniversary with a National Day of Action celebrating the theme, "Medicare is as American as Apple Pie" – and call on policy makers to protect, improve, and expand Medicare to cover all Americans with a single standard of quality care not based on ability to pay.