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J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 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 7 15 of those. Cayabyab is representing PCCs on the bargaining team. "We know the power of numbers. I want the voice to be able to say, 'That's not right. That's not safe.'" Cayabyab said that PCCs frequently believe patients are being discharged too soon, or that managers are just fine with sending patients to their own homes when they should still be cared for in a medical facility by medical professionals. She told a story about a relatively new PCC who came to her crying one night at the end of the day because the manager told her to send home a patient with a major wound, but the PCC did not feel it was safe and did not know what to do. Cayabyab found a creative solution to the problem, but wants to be able to collectively and openly advocate for better care. "Kaiser just wants to decrease census, decrease the day rate," said Cayabyab. "All they're trying to do is save money." —Staff report CALIFORNIA R egistered nurses at Emanuel Medical Center (EMC) in Turlock, Calif. voted nearly unanimously, by a 284-4 vote, on Aug. 9 to join California's largest RN union and profes- sional association, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. CNA will represent some 400 RNs at the medical center, which is part of the Tenet Healthcare system. EMC nurses moved with impressive speed in one of the union's swiftest organizing efforts to date, taking just 22 days from campaign beginning to vote. "As patient advocates, we voted yes to have a collective RN voice to enhance posi- tive patient outcomes at our hospital," said Chelsey Jerner, an emergency room RN at EMC. "Patient safety is our number-one priority." In seeking to join CNA, the Emanuel RNs said they wanted strengthen patient care delivery, as well as to improve competi- tive pay and other economic standards. "I live and work in the Turlock community and it's important to me that we raise standards so we can recruit and retain nurses at Emanuel Medical Center," said coronary care RN Erika Peterson. "We can't wait to start bargaining our first contract." CNA board member Sherri Stoddard, RN, who chairs the union's Tenet RN Coun- cil, offered EMC nurses her welcome into "our union family, joining 4,000 RNs at 11 [CNA/NNU-represented] Tenet hospitals throughout the country. We look forward to strengthening our union together." "Welcome aboard," said CNA Copresi- dent Zenei Cortez, RN. "We are proud of Emanuel RNs for taking this historic step to unite with your RN colleagues as we work together to elevate standards for patients and nurses in California and across the nation." Next, EMC RNs will elect a team of their colleagues to represent them in talks with hospital officials on a first collective bargain- ing contract. —Staff report Emanuel Medical Center RNs join union ranks