Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1520212
CNA/NNU has grown by more than 400 percent over the last 20 years. Since 2001, more than 55,000 new RN members from 136 hospitals have joined. CNA/NNU has attracted national and international acclaim for sponsoring the nation's foremost RN-to- patient staffing ratios, the most effective solution in the United States for stemming the erosion of care stan- dards in hospitals, and is now fighting to extend ratios provisions nationally with the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. CNA/NNU RNs have the best collective bargaining contracts and the most qualified labor staff in their respective fields in the nation, including communica- tions specialists, organizers, labor representatives, and educators. CNA/NNU agreements are noted for enhancing the col- lective voice of RNs in patient care decisions, outlawing dangerous practices such as mandatory overtime, and making dramatic improvements in retirement security for RNs and other provisions that are needed to retain career, direct-care RNs and to protect patients. 1992: A Bleak Scenario for CNA » Managed care touted as solution for controlling costs. » New models of clinical restructuring imported from manufacturing sector — "patient-focused care." » Deskilling: replacement of RNs with unlicensed personnel, cross training, unsafe floating, eroding RN scope of practice. » New types of technological restructuring, e.g., clinical pathways restricting RN judgment. » Growing corporatization of health care, increased privatization. » Low RN wages: CHW, San Francisco, $22.60/hr.; University of California, Irvine, $15.25/hr. » Huge disparity among Bay Area, Southern California, and Central Valley. » No retirement plan for most RNs. » Unsafe staffing, excessive patient loads. » Small percentage of RNs organized: CNA membership 18,000. » CNA dominated by non-bedside nurses. » CNA staff RNs told to "get on board with restructuring." » CNA staff nurses constitute 90 percent of membership, but shut out of decision-making. 13 Our History Building an RN Movement What a Difference Two Decades Make Community Hospital of San Bernardino St. Bernardine Medical Center St. Rose Dominican Hospital, San Martin St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Rose de Lima Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Mercy San Juan Medical Center Mercy Hospital of Folsom St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center St. Joseph's Medical Center Mercy Medical Center Merced Glendale Memorial Hospital California Hospital Medical Center St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach Arroyo Grande Community French Hospital, San Luis Obispo Marian Regional Medical Center Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Mercy Hospital Southwest Mercy Hospital Bakersfield Woodland Memorial Hospital Mercy General Hospital, Sacramento Methodist Hospital of Sacramento Bruceville Terrace Saint Francis Memorial Hospital St. Mary's Medical Center Seton Medical Center Sequoia Hospital Dominican Hospital Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta Mercy Medical Center Redding Saint Francis Memorial Hospital St. Mary's Medical Center Seton Medical Center Dominican Hospital CNA-Represented Dignity Health (previously CHW) Facilities, 1993 CNA-Represented Dignity Health Facilities, 2021 CNA/NNU Organizing Growth — Dignity Health