The California Assembly Health Committee will hold the first hearings April 2 on two bills sponsored by the California Nurses Association, including one that has already drawn considerable interest on holding hospitals more accountable in meeting their charity care and community benefit obligations.

South Florida registered nurses this week are celebrating their first ever collective bargaining agreement at Florida Medical Center (FMC) and Palmetto General Hospital, with terms they say will improve patient care as well as secure economic gains for nurses and their families.

Northeast Michigan citizens who are worried about potentially devastating changes at Alpena Regional Medical Center can now take action by signing an online petition at ARMCwatch.org. The website details why “Something’s fishy at ARMC” and features a fish chasing a hook baited with a golden dollar sign.

Registered nurses at two San Francisco Sutter hospitals, California Pacific Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital, have, at long last, reached agreement with hospital officials on a new collective bargaining contract for the 800 RNs who work at the two facilities, the California Nurses Association said today.

Registered Nurses from hospitals in Kansas City and St. Louis, members of National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), will hold a press conference on Wednesday, March 27 at 12:30p at the Gallery of the House of Representatives Lounge in Jefferson City to underscore support for the “Safe Lift” bill. The bill puts in place known solutions available to reduce patient and healthcare-giver injuries resulting from lifting.