4 News Briefs
RNs at Maine's largest hospital win union vote
5 | Michigan RNs hold powerful congressional
briefing 6 | RNs applaud introduction of
federal safe staffing ratios bill; NNU premieres
animated series on RNs' work and power during
the pandemic 7 | Minnesota nurses picket for
safe staffing 8 | Barton nurses strike for patient
safety 9 | NNU condemns CDC rollback on
Covid protection guidance 10 | Alameda and
San Leandro nurses win new contracts after
long fights; Chico, Calif. nurses picket; San
Joaquin nurses ratify new contract after
intense battle; Community First nurses
in Chicago expose safety violations
11 400 Reasons Why
Praise during Nurses Week is empty without
protections.
By Bonnie Castillo, RN
12
Dose of Hope
RNRN volunteers help administer vaccines
to thousands in underserved Los Angeles
community.
By Chuleenan Svetvilas
15 New Habits Die Hard
NNU nurses campaign and struggle to reclaim
single-use PPE practices.
By Ty Richardson
18 Survived By
The children of nurses lost to Covid-19 reflect
on love, grief, the fight for change.
By Kari Jones
20 Nursing at a Crossroads
Two veteran nurses talk candidly about the state
of nursing and how Covid-19 has speeded the
profession to a critical juncture.
Contents
ON THE COVER: This is one frame from a series
of animated shorts called "Deadly Shame" that
National Nurses United created for Nurses Week
in collaboration with acclaimed artist Molly
Crabapple and media production company
Sharp As Knives. The series explores three main
themes of nursing: the care penalty nurses
endure because our society does not properly
value care work; the moral injury nurses suffer
by practicing within a money-driven health
care economy; and how nurses' collective action
is the key to overcoming these challenges.
12
20
4
A P R I L | M AY | J U N E 2 0 2 1 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 3
