Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1531149
RNs in Motion » 15 Building an RN Movement OUR HISTORY WHAT A DIFFERENCE ORGANIZING MAKES! CNA and NNU have 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 RNs have the best collective bargaining contracts and the most qualified labor staff in their respective fields in the nation, including communications special- ists, organizers, labor representatives, and educators. CNA agreements are noted for enhancing the collec- tive 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 protect patients and recruit and retain direct-care RNs. 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/hour; University of California, Irvine, $15.25/hour. » 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 direct-care RNs told to "get on board with restructuring." » CNA direct-care nurses constitute 90 percent of membership, but shut out of decision-making. 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 CommonSpirit* Facilities, 1993 CNA-Represented CommonSpirit* Facilities 2024 CNA ORGANIZING GROWTH — COMMONSPIRIT *Previously CHW, Dignity Health