Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1477982
What Is CNA/NNU? ยป 3 A MOVEMENT FOR RNS A STRONG VOICE FOR OUR PROFESSION AND OUR PATIENTS On behalf of the elected RN-members of our Board of Directors, welcome to California Nurses Association/ National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). We are proud to be at the helm of our organization in a period marked by unparalleled growth and tremendous change for our profession and for our patients. Both a union and professional organization for RNs, CNA has grown from 17,000 RNs in 1995 located primarily in Northern California to representing more than 100,000 RNs in more than 200 facilities across the state. In 2009, CNA was the motivating force to bring state nursing associations across the nation together into one, National Nurses United. NNU's total membership today stands at more than 175,000 RNs and includes the California Nurses Association, District of Columbia Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, Southern United Nurses, and Veterans Health Administration RNs. NNU is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history. From coast to coast, our members have won the best contracts for RNs in the nation. Some 40 years ago, RNs were among the lowest-paid professionals, had no retirement, and worked every weekend. Today, through the collective action of our members, nurses at CNA/ NNU facilities have safer staffing conditions, a more secure retirement, and salaries commensurate with experience. Our agreements are noted for enhancing the collective voice of RNs in patient care decisions through our Professional Practice Committees (PPC), Assignment Despite Objection (ADO) documentation system, and improved health and safety protections. We believe that a strong professional RN union empowers us to take our patient advocacy from the bedside to the statehouse and beyond. We have repeatedly stepped outside the walls of our facilities, whether it is our decades-long fight to win and defend California's safe staffing ratios or forming the Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN) to send RN volunteers in the wake of disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake; Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Michael, and Dorian; and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. We invite RNs to join our movement and help us build an even more powerful voice for RNs and patients. OUR PROGRAM X Improve RN workplace standards through collective bargaining to assure RNs have compensation that recognizes professional skills and a retirement that provides dignity for our families after a lifetime of caring for others X Secure passage of state and national legislation for RN staffing ratios and other basic protections for RNs and patients, and meaningful health care reform based on a single standard of care for all X Make direct-care RNs, not administrators, the voice of nursing in Washington, D.C. and state capitals and the guardians of our practice and profession X Block hospital industry efforts to undermine RN professional practice in legislatures, regulatory agen- cies, boards of nursing, and at the bedside X Ensure full compliance with highest safety standards on limiting spread of pandemics and guaranteeing RN access to proper safety equipment