National Nurses United

Profile_Jan 6/30/11 12:44 PM Page 13 the California Nurses Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, and other United American Nurses groups to form National Nurses United. "It truly makes sense to bring together nurses," said Engeldorf. "If you get bedside nurses together in the same room, the issues are the same for nurses. It's about, 'How do I take care of patients to the best of my ability in a way that's safe for me?'" Minnesota nurses have already felt the benefits of joining a national nurses movement, said Engeldorf. When nearly 12,000 RNs went on strike last spring, "it did feel different. Minnesota nurses felt power being part of the coordinated larger group," she said. They have also noticed that, through "If you get bedside nurses together in the same their collective resources, nurses seem to be able to room, the issues are the same for nurses. It's respond and adapt much more quickly to a pressing about, 'How do I take care of patients to the issue or concern – such as instantly organizing RNs to best of my ability in a way that's safe for me?'" lead a march during the massive protests against antiunion, anti-worker legislation in Madison, Wis. The ongoing struggle for RNs and for NNU, sees Engeldorf, is one and the same: to challenge corporate healthcare. To to spend my money on this?' And of course we know what happens maintain the integrity of the registered nurse scope of practice, to then." Lately, Engeldorf said she's seen an increased in psychiatric win good working conditions and high standards for RNs, to win patients who also have other medical comorbidities. Early in her career, Engeldorf recognized the importance of nurs- single-payer and make sure that patients can access the healthcare they need regardless of their ability to pay – all of that means RNs es banding together. In the 1980s, as her hospital tried to cut costs need to fight and defeat the profit motive in healthcare. by experimenting with and changing delivery-of-care models, "We need to keep RNs in charge of care," said Engeldorf. "HospiEngeldorf began to get active in her union, the Minnesota Nurses tals only see opportunities to replace or reduce nurses at the bedside. Association. "They were doing all kinds of things that were really But [nothing] replaces human touch and human assessment." infringing on the RN scope of practice," said Engeldorf. "They called it 'patient-focused care,' but it was really deskilling. They were saying that pretty much everyone can do nursing." Lucia Hwang is editor of National Nurse. To fight back, Engeldorf became a nurse representative at her facility and her involvement with MNA grew steadily. Soon she became a delegate to MNA's annual convention and then began running for officer positions. In 2003, she was elected to the Economic and General Welfare Commission, which develops and implements economic and employment standards and policies for the organization. She held that position for six years, and acted as commission chair the last two years. Name: Bernadine "Bunny" Engeldorf, RN Starting in 2007, Engeldorf became active in organizing delegates Facility: United Hospital to vote for MNA to disaffiliate from the American Nurses AssociaUnit: Psychiatric tion, as the state nursing associations in California, Massachusetts, Nursing for: 39 years and Michigan had already done. The ANA was, and still is, a nurse Sign: Aquarius management-driven group unwilling to champion the agenda of Pet nursing peeve: Can't stand it that bedside nurses who desperately need an organization to help them nurses are caretakers, but often don't challenge hospital corporations. The ANA found collective bargaintake care of themselves. ing distasteful. The state associations discovered themselves in a situFavorite work snack: Coffee ation where they were often paying millions of dollars in annual dues Latest work accomplishment: Last year, to the ANA, but the ANA did not represent their interests or at times she won a labor award from MNA and she even worked against staff nurse interests. "We said, 'Minnesota needs was recently nominated by a group of peers for to leave,'" remembered Engeldorf. "We can't stay as a labor organizaa nursing excellence award. tion in this parental organization run by supervisors." The Minnesota Color of favorite scrubs: She wears street clothes, Nurses Association successfully left the ANA in October 2008 and not scrubs refocused its efforts on building itself as a union for "regular nurses." Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, travel, and seeing The next year, Engeldorf won a seat on the MNA board of directors her grandchildren and today serves on its executive board as a second vice president, as Favorite book: Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell well as the executive council of NNU. In addition, she continues to be Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind (See a pattern here?) active on a local level as a bargaining unit member at United Hospital. Secret talent unrelated to nursing: She used to be good at In her role as a nurse leader, she's been most proud to help MNA water sports, like water skiing; also has a green thumb. achieve independence and in forging collaborative relationships with other unions, most notably in the 2009 merger of MNA with because her community does not have enough inpatient psych beds, and as more and more people have lost their insurance through unemployment, patients are coming to her hospital as a last resort. "Community services have been cut, so it's taken away the ability of patients to seek care prior to a crisis," said Engeldorf. "If you don't have insurance or money's tight, you cut back on your medication. If you've been taking it, you're feeling good, you think, 'Why do I need Profile JUNE 2011 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 N AT I O N A L N U R S E 13

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