Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1477982
10 NEW STANDARDS FOR RNS AND PATIENT PROTECTION CNA/NNU contracts have created new standards for RNs and patient protection. A crucial part of quality patient care is ensuring adequate hospi- tal staffing to avoid putting patients at risk and driving nurses out of the profession. CNA/NNU representation provides RNs with the tools to have a real voice in patient care decisions, which we use to create safer health care facilities to protect our patients, our licenses, and ourselves. CNA/NNU contracts include nondiscrimination language related to work, such as seniority, age, race, and gender. STAFFING RATIOS PROTECTIONS Staffing ratios are written into nurses' contracts and are enforceable. Disputes over staffing between the Professional Practice Committee (PPC) and management may be settled by a neutral arbitrator for a binding decision. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE COMMITTEES CNA/NNU contracts negotiate staff RN-controlled com- mittees with the authority to document unsafe practices and the power to make real changes. The Professional Practice Committee is an elected, staff RN committee with representatives from every major nursing unit. The PPC meets in the hospital on paid time and tracks unsafe conditions through an independent documentation system called the Assignment Despite Objection (ADO). TECHNOLOGY WON'T REPLACE RN JUDGMENT X Precedent-setting language that prevents new technology from displacing RNs or RN professional judgment FLOATING POLICY IMPROVEMENTS X Floating not required outside the RN's clinical area X No floating allowed unless RN clinically competent HEALTH AND SAFETY X RNs at many facilities have won presumptive eligibility provisions in their contracts that guarantee workers' compensation benefits in the event they contract certain diseases or infections or suffer needle sticks X CNA nurses were successful in passing 2014 legisla- tion requiring hospitals to have plans and training in place to prevent workplace violence against health care workers, and have been cementing such lan- guage into contracts as well X Contract language to assure safer lift policies, includ- ing "appropriately trained and designated staff" to assist with patient handling, available 24 hours a day BAN ON MANDATORY OVERTIME X Prevents nurses working when they are exhausted, which protects patients CHARGE RN X Not counted in the staffing matrix. Has the authority to increase staffing as needed PAID EDUCATION LEAVE X Up to 12 days per year RESOURCE RNS X RNs who are not given a patient care assignment or counted in the patient acuity mix available to assist RNs as needed on their units CNA/NNU contracts include patient protection standards that give us the authority to directly improve patient care at our facilities. For example, binding arbitration for safe staffing is a historic contract gain that gives our Professional Practice Committee the power to improve staffing on units, and protect patient safety. Every RN contract should have these kinds of standards and, eventually, they will." — Cathy Kennedy, RN, CNA Council of Presidents Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, Calif. " Why RNs Vote for CNA/NNU »