National Nurses United

10 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 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 A P R I L | M AY | J U N E 2 0 2 6 " W e're in a right-to- work state so we always have to expose people to what the union is doing and how you can get involved," said Madison Bhagalia, RN in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and cochair of the Professional Practice Committee (PPC) at Menorah Medical Center in Overland, Kansas. "Kansas is rural and conservative. A lot of our geography is dominated by agriculture and many of our people haven't been exposed to or heard of the benefits that unions bring. Education is important. I tell people that we are in the union because we want better patient care. We're advocating for our patients. Then they realize, 'Oh, unions are a good thing.'" Sharing information and educating nurses is essential to an effective PPC, an elected staff RN-controlled committee representing each major nursing unit in the facility. The PPC usually meets monthly on paid time and is a key part of contracts negotiated by California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). The PPC has the authority to document unsafe practices and the power to meet with management and make real changes across the facility. For example, in a March 2025 PPC meet- ing, PPC members at Menorah raised their concerns about security. Over the following months, they put pressure on management at every PPC meeting to address their metal detector recommendations. By January 2026, management installed a new security checkpoint at the main ED entrance to ensure consistent use of the metal-detection system. A secondary ED interior entrance was installed for nighttime use, featuring double-locking, badge-access-only doors. In addition, access to the facility after hours (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) would be limited to the ED entrance, with security screening all visitors and patients for weapons. The PPC meeting is where nurses discuss what is happening across the facility so they can take action to improve the situation. Since 2012, the PPC at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas, has held its monthly four-hour meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. At each meeting, they have information available for members to take home, such as minutes from the last meeting, assignment despite objection forms (ADOs), flyers about continuing education, and any other issues. At a meeting in March, they also had a measles flyer from health and safety and a flyer about A.I and Palantir. At the beginning of the meeting at Meno- rah, the PPC invites members—usually nurses in certain units, RNs who have recently filled out ADOs, and newly hired nurses—via text to attend the lunch part of their meeting when they review and log ADOs filed by nurses and discuss what's happening across the hospital. PPC members encourage RNs to bring their ADOs to the PPC meeting or anecdotes about their nursing practice concerns. "Some of the ADOs will be about short staffing," said Janice Rider, a labor and delivery RN and cochair of the PPC at Menorah. "If it's a more interesting ADO, someone will pipe up and tell the whole group and we will talk about it." Outreach is a key component of educating nurses. Making meetings enjoyable or hosting special events is a way to bring people in. Menorah's March PPC meet- ing fell on St. Patrick's Day so to make it fun, they gave out stickers with a green shamrock in the center and the words "Luck won't fix staffing" at the top and the NNOC/NNU logos at the bottom. The stickers were a hit and they also had a baked potato bar for lunch, an edible tie-in to St. Patrick's Day. PPC members also attend monthly membership and outreach meetings at Menorah, known as "conference room" events, which feature contract education and updates on ongoing issues or actions, including gathering signatures for peti- tions—and often, delicious barbecue. RNs can also pick up ADO forms, contracts, and union gear. To ensure that all nurses can drop by, the event is held at two different times, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a great opportunity to meet other nurses who would like to get more involved. "We've had nonmembers come down to our conference rooms and have signed up as new members," noted Rider. "In a right-to- work state, having meetings with fun and energy makes a difference." Chuleenan Svetvilas is a communications specialist at National Nurses United. An ongoing series Information Is Essential Outreach and education is key to PPC power By Chuleenan Svetvilas Madison Bhagalia, RN Janice Rider, RN

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