National Nurses United

Profile:3 10/18/07 9:01 AM Page 25 Triunfo-Cortez, who had been working in the ICU for eight years, had put in a request to be transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit. The hospital denied the request, saying the position had been filled. When Triunfo-Cortez found out that Kaiser had hired a registry nurse for the position, she got upset because under the bargaining agreement, permanent nurses were supposed to get first crack at such jobs. Kaiser wouldn't acknowledge its mistake, instead alleging that Triunfo-Cortez was not qualified and that family connections (a distant relative by marriage) compromised her eligibility for the position—even though there was a husband-wife team working in the PACU. Triunfo-Cortez was infuriated, and decided to contest the decision. When the matter finally reached the regional level after months of struggle, the administrators there agreed that TriunfoCortez should have won the position. "I really got that, Hey! feeling," said Triunfo-Cortez, pumping her fists into the air and opening her eyes wide in excitement. "I fought tooth and nail trying to get it, and there was no question I should get it. Then I believed in the power of CNA." After that experience, Triunfo-Cortez said she felt it was important to participate in all things CNA/NNOC, "because people should Name: Malinda Markowitz Facility: Good Samaritan Hospital Unit: Surgical, orthopedic, neurological Nursing for: 26 years On CNA/NNOC board since: 2000 Sign: Gemini Pet nursing peeve: Having to deal with passive-aggressive, backstabbing personalities. She prefers people who can be open and honest. Favorite work snack: See's candy when she can get it Color of favorite scrubs: Different shades of violet Favorite hobby: Loves shopping and traveling to sunny places and beaches Secret talent unrelated to nursing: Cooking OCTOBER 2007 not go through what I went through," she says. The first position she held was as a nurse representative. Triunfo-Cortez then stepped up to become the chief nurse rep, then the Professional Practice Committee chair, and finally joined the board in 1993 to represent Region 12, the Bay Area's peninsula district. She has also participated in bargaining sessions with Kaiser for many years. "It's a lot of time commitment," says Triunfo-Cortez, "but it gives you the pleasure and satisfaction when you win a case for RNs." Triunfo-Cortez said the biggest challenge for RNs today is to hold hospital management accountable to the law and regulations. But in order for nurses to do that, she believes, they need to feel confident and safe enough in their jobs to challenge the administration. RNs won't get that level of comfort unless they are well organized and educated on why and how to speak up. "A lot of nurses, they don't want confrontation," she said. "And there's a lot of intimidation out there, too." Ultimately, Triunfo-Cortez would like to see every RN in the nation represented by CNA/NNOC. That means the biggest challenge for CNA is to keep organizing nurses. In recent years, Triunfo-Cortez has gained an even more personal understanding of how important it is for RNs to unionize. Like many Filipino RNs, Triunfo-Cortez was born into an extended family with many nurses. When Triunfo-Cortez emigrated in 1974 from the Philippines to Chicago at age 19, she said that when she arrived, "everyone was a nurse. All your aunties, your cousins, their friends, your friends, were nurses." She decided to go into nursing, too, but shakes her head when she thinks about how differently her career as a unionized nurse and some of her aunties' careers will end. She said her aunties worked in non-union hospitals, or ones with weak unions that never secured guaranteed pension benefits for their members. "Some of the aunties are still in Chicago, in their 60s, and still working," Triunfo-Cortez said. "There was no clear cut, defined pension plan. And they're older, slowing down, and having a hard time keeping up. They see what I'm doing [with CNA/NNOC], and they're very supportive." I Name: Zenei Triunfo-Cortez Facility: Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Unit: Post anesthesia care unit Nursing for: 30 years On CNA/NNOC board since: 1993 Sign: Virgo Pet nursing peeve: Hates it when nurses complain, but don't do anything about the problem. Favorite work snack: Mixed nuts Color of favorite scrubs: Blue Favorite hobbies: Traveling and reading Special talent unrelated to nursing: Chatting people up and networking W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 25

• Cover