National Nurses United

10 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 S E P T E M B E R | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 California registered nurses at Hemet Valley Medical Center ratified in September a new collective bargaining agreement with the hospital that they say will help efforts to retain experienced RNs and recruit new nurses at the Inland Valley hospital. "We have taken steps with our contract settle- ment to retain our dedicated RNs," said nurse negotiator Eden Faustino, RN. "Thanks to our RNs who believed that together we could accomplish our goals. We will continue to put patients first." The three- year agreement covers 250 RNs who are represented by the California Nurses Associ- ation/National Nurses United. Maine registered nurses at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor held an infor- mational picket and candlelight vigil Oct. 15 over ongoing concerns about the safe and proper use of healthcare technology and RNs' ability to freely advocate for those and other safety issues. Represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/ National Nurses United (MSNA/NNU), RNs are pushing for contract language over the implementation and use of new healthcare technology. RNs have proposed provisions that would give direct- care nurses meaningful input before technol- ogy is used in patient care settings, but management has rejected the nurses' propos- als and been unwilling to extend the contract, which expired on May 12. Mount Desert nurs- es will continue to advocate for safety and have, so far, pushed the hospital to fix a criti- cal scanning issue and replace the existing and problematic remote pharmacy company. National on a list dominated by top executives of the hospital, insurance, pharmaceutical, and other healthcare industry corporations, National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro has been named as one of the 100 most influential people in healthcare in the United States. DeMoro has been named for 13 straight years to the top 100, every year since Modern Healthcare, a prominent national healthcare industry publication, began publishing the list. This year she is ranked number 41 on the list. Notably, DeMoro is the only representa- tive of working nurses or any other organiza- tion that represents those who provide hands-on, direct medical care. By contrast, nearly two-thirds of those on the list are top executives of hospital, insurance, pharma- ceutical, medical device, health information technology, nursing home, specialty care, or other healthcare industry corporations. About one-fifth are elected officials or top staff of public agencies. Texas el paso registered nurses, working with living-wage supporters in a group called the Lift Up El Paso Alliance, successfully lobbied in October to pass a city ordinance that ensures El Paso does not grant city contracts or permits, or otherwise do business with, employers who have been convicted of violat- ing federal and state wage theft laws. These include paying less than the minimum wage, failing to pay overtime, or forcing workers to labor off the clock. The alliance will continue to push to raise the minimum wage in El Paso. "I support these initiatives because I've seen first- hand as an RN what happens when wages don't keep up with the rising cost of living, taxes, and medical care," said Maria Navarro, a lifelong El Paso resident and RN at Del Sol Medical Center. "It's painfully simple: People don't seek medical attention when they need it and their health deteriorates. —Staff report WRAP-UP REPORT From left: Mount Desert Island Hospital RNs in Maine picketed their hospital over right to have input into new technologies; NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro is named for 13th year to list of top 100 most influential people in healthcare.

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