National Nurses United

6 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 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 J U LY | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 NEWS BRIEFS MINNESOTA M ore than 500 nurses, nurs- es aides, janitors, food service workers, and supporters from throughout Minnesota filled the sidewalks around a major metropolitan hospital on June 24 to protest plans to cut nursing staff to dangerously low levels. Nurses at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale took their battle against a new staffing plan to the streets outside the hospital to draw public atten- tion. The plan would increase the number of patients each nurse cares for and was devel- oped without staff input. North Memorial nurses expressed opposition to the plan as soon as they learned of it. When the hospital refused to reconsider, Minnesota Nurses Association partnered with SEIU Healthcare MN, which represents about 800 employees at North Memorial, to take the issue to the public.It was the first time the two unions held a joint informational picket. "They want to change the game and increase staff to unsafe levels," said Marty Turner, a North Memorial RN and cochair. "North Memorial nurses want to provide the care patients need and deserve—and this plan will reduce our ability to provide safe care for every patient." "Patient safety has always been my number-one concern," said North Memorial RN Monifa Owens, who picketed with her baby son and teenage daughter. "We're out to let our voices be heard for patient safety," said Angele Oseland, another North Memorial RN on the picket line. "More nurses are taking more patients, who are sicker and need more care." "The number of people who took the time to stand with us are a testament to the importance of this issue," said MNA Presi- dent Linda Hamilton, RN. The public side- walks around the facility were packed with North Memorial staff who finished a long shift and came straight to the picket line, supporters from around the state as well as nurses from area hospitals, and elected offi- cials, including top legislative leaders who spoke about the statewide implications of the issue. "North Memorial is not alone in putting the bottom line ahead of patient care and safe staffing," said Turner, adding that if North Memorial succeeds in imple- menting its plan, hospitals throughout the state could follow suit. "Seeing everyone's concern and dedica- tion together throughout the day was very encouraging," said North Memorial RN and cochair Barbara Gundale. "It shows the strength we have as we stand together. Some nurses stayed the entire 10-hour day because they were so disturbed about the proposals." The Minnesota Nurses Association represents 980 nurses at North Memorial Medical Center, which is a Level 1 Trauma Center in a northwest suburb of the Twin Cities. Nurses there have endured five major restructurings in the last three years. —Barbara Brady RNs, coworkers, and community picket North Memorial plan to cut staff

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