National Nurses United

NewsBriefs_Oct Alt 2/25/10 2:56 PM Page 8 NEWS BRIEFS MountainView RNs Join National Nurses Movement R NEVADA egistered nurses at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada voted overwhelmingly to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee in January. The 61 percent vote marked the first organizing victory since nurses across the country came together to form National Nurses United, the RN super-union, last year. "I am so excited. It is a victory for patients, patient safety, and for us, the nurses. We have our voice at last," said Alta Meyer, an intensive care RN at MountainView. CNA/NNOC will represent over 400 RNs at the hospital, which is owned by HCA, the largest private hospital corporation in the world. "This election should provide tremen8 N AT I O N A L N U R S E dous encouragement to HCA Nurses at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada and other nurses across our celebrate their unionization victory (left). The 400 nation who also long for repreMountainView nurses are the first RNs to organize sentation to enhance patient with National Nurses United since the formation of the care conditions and advance super-union last December. At right, nurses call friends standards for their colleagues, and colleagues to tell them the good news. their families and the nursing profession," said Malinda and minimum nurse-to-patient staffing Markowitz, an HCA nurse and NNU board ratios to ensure safe patient care. member. Organizing new nurses is a top priority Nurses from other HCA hospitals, as well for NNU. NNU Co-President Jean Ross, RN as nurses from other Nevada hospitals welcomed MountainView nurses as new represented by CNA/NNOC, supported the members of NNU, "who will be a vital part MountainView nurses in their campaign. of our national campaign to change the face With the election victory, nurses at five of patient care, and assist the ability of all Nevada hospitals are now NNU members. The MountainView nurses have formed a RNs to promote a better life for themselves and their patients." bargaining council, are preparing to negoti"We are thrilled to be part of the national ate their first contract and will elect a nurses movement and we'll be looking bargaining team February 26. Their goals forward to helping other nurses come on include a secure retirement plan for RNs, a board," said Nenita Garcia, a medical-surgifair grievance procedure, safe patient lift cal nurse at MountainView. —Staff Report teams, guaranteed meal periods and breaks, 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 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2010

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