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O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 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 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 5 NATIONAL N urses once again topped the Gallup Poll's annual ranking of how Americans view 22 major professions, with 84 percent of the public rating RN honesty and ethical standards as "high" or "very high." Nurses have ranked first for 15 consecutive years and every year except for one in the 18 years that Gallup has surveyed public opinion on what profession is most trusted. "Patients, their families, and the public at large understand that when they are the most vulnerable, they can count on nurses," said Deborah Burger, RN and co-president of National Nurses United. "As nurses we are guided by the values of caring, compas- sion, and community and we will go to any length to advocate for our patients and they know that." "Our role as patient advocates is more critical than ever in a healthcare system where profit margins and executive wealth are put ahead of caring and public safety," said Burger. "Our patient advocacy role has led us to become very active in the public arena, especially in leading national efforts to guarantee healthcare for all, and chal- lenge price gouging by pharmaceutical, insurance, and hospital corporations." In November, after the elections, Nation- al Nurses United members rallied outside the nation's Capitol in support of Medicare and then visited the office of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to express opposition to Republican plans to dismantle Medicare. NNU members have also played a vital role in winning landmark health and safety regulations that protect nurses and patients in areas such as infectious disease, nurse-to- patient staffing ratios, safe patient handling and lifting, and workplace violence preven- tion. NNU members have been active locally and nationally in campaigns to address the harms caused to health by pollution and the climate crisis, including the successful campaign against the Keystone XL Pipeline. Over the past few months, nurses with NNU's Registered Nurse Response Network (RNRN) have volunteered at the Standing Rock Sioux encampment in North Dakota, providing medical aid to activists opposing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would threaten the water supply of millions of people. —Staff report MINNESOTA R etired minnesota Nurses Asso- ciation members now have a place to continue their advocacy for patients, the nursing profession, and their communities. MNA's House of Delegates in October approved creation of the Council of Active Retired Nurses (CARN). Retirees immedi- ately began putting the group together. The council provides an avenue for retired nurses to remain involved in MNA and continue to advocate and share knowledge and expertise with active nurses. "We see ourselves as an integral part of MNA, working to help achieve MNA's goals within the existing framework," said CARN Chair Barb Martin, RN. "We may be retired, but we haven't lost interest in nursing," said CARN member Kathleen Malecki, RN. "This is our way to contribute to the health of nurses and communities." "Retirees are an untapped resource," said CARN member Kava Zabawa, RN. "We have expertise, passion, and time to support active nurses." —Barbara Brady RNs once again rated most honest, ethical profession Nurses have won honor for 15 years in a row Retired Minnesota nurses keep active in MNA