National Nurses United

J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 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 about public health in our hospitals, but also about public health in society at large. Our patients' well-being is jeopardized by every- thing from a broken healthcare system, to a culture of economic, racial, and environ- mental injustice. In that regard, our nurses work to enact change in our hospitals, and we also stand up to change laws. I feel so fortunate to have served as government relations director and health and safety director for the union, as RNs fought to win critical legislative protec- tions, including the strongest workplace violence protections in the United States, as well as landmark infectious disease and safe patient handling legislation, and more. I could not be more proud of our nurse members for always standing up for what's right, whether that is at the bedside or in the offices of our elected officials. To that end, it has also been with great pride, during my time as director of NNU's disaster relief project, RN Response Network (RNRN), that I have worked with the brave RN volunteers who trav- eled all over the world, helping care for patients and relieve their local colleagues in the aftermath of disasters from the Haiti earthquake and super typhoon Haiyan, to hurricanes Katrina, Harvey (Texas) and Maria (Puerto Rico). It has been humbling and heartening to watch our nurses constantly step up and lead the way in walking the walk of a health- ier world. As I now reach the culmination of my time fighting with the mighty nurses, taking over as executive director, I still carry within me the ICU RN who first learned to fight back. I'm beyond proud to stand with the 150,000 RNs we represent nationwide, who are fighting every day for patients who enter and forever change our lives. As a union, rest assured we will never waiver in our commitment to achieving the highest level of wellness for these patients. And we will not rest until every RN is able to have a strong voice on the job, for her patients, for her colleagues, for herself. Times are tough. Unions are under attack, especially with the current Janus v. AFSCME case threatening to destroy public-sector unions. But if our organizational history has taught us anything, it has taught us that the collective power of nurses cannot be denied. As RoseAnn was fond of saying, "We punch above our weight." She led our scrap- py union of red-scrubbed nurses through fights where no one thought our voice would matter—until we surprised everyone by winning. I thank RoseAnn for her fierce, audacious, and good-humored example of what was possible. At the end of the day, our voice has always been the moral one. I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity to be at the helm, as we continue to raise our nurses' voice at bedside, the bargaining table, and beyond. You will continue to see our red scrubs in our hospitals, in the streets, and in our elected officials' offices. Everywhere public health is at risk, the nurses will be there. And I will be with them. And we will continue to fight, through victories and setbacks, never giving up on what's just for people and the planet. And together, we will win. —Bonnie Castillo, RN

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