National Nurses United

NewsBriefs:2 5/29/09 12:19 PM Page 4 NewsBriefs RNS TAKE WASHINGTON, D.C. BY STORM DURING NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION NATIONAL F orget chocolates, muffin baskets, and pizza for the unit. This year's National Nurses Week was celebrated unlike any other. In May, some 500 registered nurses from around the country—from CNA/NNOC, United American Nurses, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, and the Service Employees International Union Nurse Alliance – converged on Washington, D.C. for several days of protest and advocacy on behalf of themselves, their patients, and genuine healthcare reform for the American public. "Until every patient in American has a registered nurse at their bedside when they need them, there will never be a correct healthcare system," said Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of CNA/NNOC during a plenary session of the RNs. "All these schemes in Congress [to reform healthcare] are just schemes. They're not real. What's real is: Let's give the patients the care they need when they need it, and let's take the profits that go to the insurance companies out of the equation." 4 REGISTERED NURSE Culminating in a "National RN Day of Action" on May 13, the activities showcased the collective power of a new national nurses movement spearheaded by CNA/NNOC and these other allied nursing organizations. CNA/NNOC announced the introduction by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer of its "National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act," a federal bill that would establish minimum, mandatory RN-to-patient staffing ratios in all 50 states. In the Senate, the bill is known as S. 1031. "While we celebrate nurses this week, we have to also acknowledge that too many nurses are overworked because of staffing levels that are simply inadequate," said Boxer during a speech to RNs. "This bill will not only help address the nationwide shortage of skilled nurses, it will improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans." RN activists also marched on Capitol Hill to voice their support for guaranteed, singlepayer healthcare by improving and expanding Medicare to cover all Americans, and protested Congress' exclusion of a single-payer solution from the current national debate over healthcare reform. RNs and physicians, with signs W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G pinned to their backs reading "Nurses say: Patients first! Stop AHIP! Pass single-payer!" stood up during a healthcare forum May 12 held by Sen. Max Baucus, one of the lead brokers of healthcare reform deals that would ensure health insurance companies keep making profits while denying care to patients. Two CNA/NNOC RN members, Sue Cannon and board member DeAnn McEwen, were arrested for speaking up during the proceedings. The events centered on building a national nurses movement based on a platform of RN ratios, RN rights to advocate for patients, and RN representation through unionization. It was the first time that so many RNs had gathered under a clear banner demanding power and respect for their profession and patients. The activities also solidified the alliances between CNA/NNOC, United Watch videos of CNA/NNOC's National RN Day of Action on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/calnurses or by visiting our website at www.calnurses.org. M AY 2 0 0 9

• Cover