Critical care
Hundreds of nurses from the UMass Memorial Medical Center system staged a boisterous rally and demonstration in front of the Belmont Street Memorial campus yesterday to protest what they contend are unsafe staffing levels, hospital demands for pay and benefit cuts and the planned closing of a medical-surgical unit at Memorial.
Telegram and Gazette
As Hundreds of CHO Nurses Strike for Healthcare, Leading Alameda Politicians, Community Allies Join
One day after 780 registered nurses launched a three-day strike against Children’s Hospital Oakland’s attempts to slash their healthcare benefits, hundreds of RNs will rally outside the hospital and be joined by a broad committee of political and community allies this Wednesday, Oct. 13. The allies will include Assemblymembers Nancy Skinner and Sandre Swanson, leading contenders for other offices including mayor of Oakland, nurses from around the Bay Area, and a parade of patients and healthcare activists.
Press Release
Nov 23, 2010
U.S., California probe Prime Healthcare
A Southern California hospital chain known for aggressive billing practices and cost-cutting is being investigated by state and federal authorities for an unusually high rate of life-threatening infections among its older patients.
Los Angeles TImes
800 Children’s Hospital Oakland Nurses to Walk the Picket Line as Strike Begins Oct. 12
800 registered nurses from Children’s Hospital Oakland (CHO) will hit the picket line Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 a.m. to launch a three-day strike over management’s efforts to slash the healthcare benefits that nurses receive, the California Nurses Association (CNA) announced today. The nurses have been working without a contract since July 13.
Press Release
Nov 23, 2010
Nurses picket EMMC
Off-duty registered nurses covered by the union contract at Eastern Maine Medical Center picketed the hospital Monday. The purpose of the demonstration was "informational," according to Vanessa Sylvester of the Maine State Nurses Association, intended to raise public awareness of ongoing contract negotiations between the nurses and the hospital administration.
Bangor Daily News
US healthcare 'to blame' for poor life expectancy rates
The US healthcare system is to blame for declines in the country's life expectancy ranking, a study suggests. The Columbia University report rejects claims that factors such as obesity have shortened life-spans for Americans relative to other wealthy nations.
BBC
Washington Hospital Center RNs Join Nation’s Largest Nurses’ Union
Registered nurses in Washington D.C.’s largest hospital, Washington Hospital Center, have voted to join National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union and professional association of RNs. Nearly 1,600 WHC nurses, who have been in the independent organization Nurses United of the National Capital Region will now be a part of NNU.
Press Release
Nov 23, 2010
Health insurers throw support behind Republican candidates
The insurance industry is pouring money into Republican campaign coffers in hopes of scaling back wide-ranging regulations in the new healthcare law, while preserving the mandate that Americans buy coverage. Since January, the nation's five largest insurers and the industry's Washington-based lobbying arm have given three times more money to Republican lawmakers and political action committees than to Democrats.
Los Angeles TImes
Concerted effort to silence RNs
Assemblyman Curt Hagman's attack on registered nurses and our professional voice, the California Nurses Association, in a recent point of view (Sept. 23), and the bill he has sponsored to dictate what nurses are able to learn to better advocate for our patients, symbolize what is at stake for California patients and nurses in the November election.
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Nurses push for nurse-to-patient ratios
Nurses want minimum nurse-to-patient ratios to improve the quality and safety of patient care in NSW. Brett Holmes, general secretary of the NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA), on Monday said the reform had the backing of both public hospital and community healthcare nurses.
Sydney Morning Herald