Your MNA Bargaining Committee meets with the Nursing Administration leadership every one to two months to discuss issues affecting the bargaining unit.  The concerns that the MNA Committee bring forward are generated by nurses throughout the hospital. Issues ranging from contract compliance to inadequate staffing and unit morale are at the top of our list to be placed on the agenda for this meeting.

The following items that were brought forward on your behalf over the last couple of months were:

• L&D – The hospital agreed to meet the AWOHNN professional standards for staffing 2 years ago and is still not doing so.   Enclosed is the leaflet developed to distribute to the public if a much-needed progress is not made on this issue.

• Heme/Onc – Staff-driven meetings have been held with management regarding the nurses’ recommendation that an additional nurse is needed from 7pm – 11pm on all hem/onc pods. The nurses’ specific concerns and examples of why more staff is needed were presented to Hem/Onc. Executive Director Carolyn Hayes.  Staffing Concern Forms and follow-up will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

• Safety of the patients and nurses when dealing with aggressive visitors/ family members - Nursing staff need support from management when these issues happen on the units.  Family members and visitors do not have the right to threaten nurses, ever! 

• MICU staff concerns regarding forced doubles and inability to take timely, uninterrupted meal breaks – Specifics were presented outlining the expansion of the staff nurses’ responsibilities and the difficulties faced with decreased staffing levels and increased acuity.   The hospital was reminded about its legal and contractual obligations regarding meal breaks. 

• CDIC/EP staff raised concerns about receiving appropriate orientation for the implementation of the computerized medical record  - The hospital assured the Committee that all nurses would receive the education required prior to “going live” with the change.

   

Our next meeting is scheduled for June 29, 2010.  MNA agenda items for this meeting include:

• 11A staffing/Staffing Concern Form
• 16AB – lack of lifts for this heavy patient population
• Physical requirements added to BWH staff nurse job description
• Lack of Nurse Managers in Ambulatory
• Continued discussion and follow-up on MICU, Hem/Onc and L&D staffing

We are working with nurses throughout the hospital who have identified issues and concerns.  Please don’t hesitate to bring any issue forward.  We are pleased that nurses continue to become empowered to speak up.  That is the strength of our union! 

In Unity, 
Your MNA Committee

Barbara Norton, Chairperson, NICU                   Michael Robinson, Vice-Chair, ER
Marian Wright, Treasurer, CWN9                         Judy Lydon, Secretary, CWN8
Susan Tartaglia, Membership, Care Coord.      Judith Racowsky, CWN9
Mary Ann Dillon, 3BC                                              Trish Powers, OR
Connie Gassett, AMB GYN                                    Jean Cabral, 9E
Dianne Griffin, 5A                                                    Maureen Kenneally-Ward, L&D
Sandra Abber, 16AB                                               Michael Savoy, ER
Kristen Robishaw, NICU                                       Laurie Demeule, Cath Lab.