Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/198516
Profile:2 5/27/08 12:20 PM Page 17 7 a.m. "I didn't realize it then, but they were happy to agree because SiCKO bus tour, which drove nurses, patients, and others around the they had no night shift nurses," she says. "Most of the time I was country to attend premiers of the film in different cities. Meeting working night shift in the ER with just one LVN. That was it. It was patients, participating in discussions, and talking with those whose crazy." Knowing instinctively that she could rely on the union for lives had been touched by the healthcare crisis was amazing, she says. help, Koorsones worked with CNA to bring more nurses onto the "Why shouldn't everyone have free access to healthcare? It shouldn't be a privilege, it should be a right," she says, growing serious. "I hope night shift and create safer staffing numbers. Koorsones took her involvement with the union to the next level to see it in my lifetime." For Koorsones, as for most Americans, the fight for guaranteed when she moved to the hospital's recovery room and met Zenei Cortez, RN. Cortez, who now sits on the Council of Presidents, was at healthcare is personal. Her daughter works as an EMT in San Francisco, that time the Region 12c director, representing three area Kaiser where she is required to do heavy lifting and is often exposed to serious health risks. However, she enjoys facilities on the CNA board of direcno union protections and only has tors. Cortez encouraged Koorsones health insurance because San Franto become active on the PPC and "Nurses are so well respected; we can cisco has passed legislation that reprompted her to run for Region 12c push any kind of issue we want. quires all San Francisco employers to director when Cortez became vice Education is definitely one of those provide health coverage to employees. president in 2003. issues. People say 'CNA/NNOC "Otherwise," Koorsones laments, "she One of Koorsones' first camis so political,' but everything is wouldn't have health insurance at all." paigns at Kaiser was her involvepolitical. Even if you don't vote you're Koorsones firmly believes that, ment in the now-historic rolling making a political statement." as bankrupt and convoluted as strikes that spanned 18 months America's healthcare is today, sinbetween 1996 and 1998. The strikes centered on contract disputes between CNA and Kaiser, in which gle-payer healthcare is well within our reach. More importantly, she Kaiser attempted to impose numerous takeaways upon the nurses. believes that healthcare reform will be carried out by the very practi"Zenei said management would come into the bargaining room and tioners who work within the system. "As RNs, we do hold the power," just sit there reading the newspaper—they wouldn't even try to nego- she says. "If we wield it intelligently and passionately, we'll have sintiate," Koorsones says. "Our strikes were very effective, though. They gle-payer moving forward." I had to close down the entire hospital. After 18 months they finally negotiated with no takeaways." Erika Larson is associate editor of Registered Nurse. More than three decades after sidetracking her plans to become a teacher, Koorsones has shown an interest in getting back into the education field—with a nursing twist, of course. She is currently a substitute nursing teacher at City College of San Francisco and hopes to become a regular assistant instructor in the fall. "I've always enjoyed teaching and helping new nurses at work," she says. "This way I can help new nurses but still be a staff nurse and remain active with CNA/NNOC." While the number of students interested in Name: Diane Koorsones, RN studying nursing is encouraging, she says it's upsetting that there are Facility: Kaiser Permanente, not enough teachers or facilities to address the growing number of South San Francisco would-be nurses. "We need more staff nurses to go in and be clinical Unit: Recovery Room instructors— you just need a bachelor's to do that. I think a lot of peoNursing for: 32 years ple don't realize that that's something they can do. On CNA/NNOC board since: 2003 "Nurses are so well respected; we can push any kind of issue we Sign: Taurus want. Education is definitely one of those issues," Koorsones continNursing Pet Peeve: RNs who don't act as advocates ues. "People say 'CNA/NNOC is so political,' but everything is politifor their patients cal. Even if you don't vote you're making a political statement." Favorite Work Snack: Anything chocolate Koorsones takes a dim view of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Latest Work Accomplishment: Working with the PPC to receiving kudos for the increased number of nursing graduates in the have effective protocol for admitting pediatric patients state over the past year. "Of course they credit him with it, but there's Color of favorite scrubs: "Well, blue is my only choice still so many waiting to get into schools. We need to open more at work, so I'll have to say blue!" schools now to address the shortage." Koorsones, of course, rememHobbies: Attending 49ers and Giants games (Diane bers when Schwarzenegger wasn't so keen on having more nurses in and her husband are season ticketholders) the state, and savors the memories of the 2004 campaign against him. Favorite Musician: Santana "I was on the patient protection squad, and I still have my jacket," she Latest Book Read: Crossing to Safety by Wallace Steager states proudly. "It was probably my favorite campaign." Secret talents unrelated to nursing: Interior decoration She takes on an even more passionate tone, however, when the topic comes to single-payer healthcare. Koorsones was part of the Profile M AY 2 0 0 8 W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 17