Unionization In Nursing

According to Suzanne Gordon “ whether young or old, nurses are disillusioned because they believe that health care systems guided by bottom-line concerns simply don’t recognize the specificity of their work” (234). Nursing is more demanding than many other professions or occupations, due to the combination of difficult patients, exhausting schedules and arduous physical work (Gordon 235). It can take a significant emotional toll on many, hence the higher levels of burnout. Job dissatisfaction as a result of increased workloads and unreasonable demands, such as inappropriate nurse staffing levels, was cited as the number one reason that drives many experienced nurses to leave the profession (Sanford 38+). Studies have shown that such working conditions also affected the retention of new graduate nurses by leaving their first hospital jobs within two years of graduating (Sanford 38+).

The nurse manager should also be able to convince the union representatives if any, senior nurses and the nurses in the unit about the problems of understaffing in the unit. Empowered nurse managers at all levels who feel supported by their organizations always played an important role in staff nurse retention (Wong, 2012). A satisfied staff is happy and more productive.

The four spheres of political action in nursing as mentioned by Mason, Leavitt, and Chaffee (2011) includes the workplace or workforce, the government, the organizations, and the community. The authors further stated that although the four spheres overlap at times, the action performed in any one of these spheres can cause a reaction in any of the others. Nurses are a part of the community in which they live and can influence health and social policy within their workplace, which can have a profound impact on the organization. Furthermore, the government can pass health care policies, which in turn causes the organization to change their policy. Thus, affecting healthcare providers in the workplace and the community at large. An example of

Workload was described to be heavy, stressful, increase in intensity and overtime hours. As a result 25.8% consider resigning, 20.2% consider retiring and 25.6% consider leaving profession. Another problem that was observed at individual level was poor commitment to care. One of the factors that often limited nurses to provide therapeutic care was the change in nurse to patient ratio. As nurses assignments increase with the increase in the number of patients (i.e. 1 nurse to 6-8 patients) the quality of care provided decreases. Nurses’ ability to maintain safe environment became challenging. As part of caring, nurses also showed decreased amount of time spent with their patient. This eventually led to nurses being less satisfied with their current job. Self – efficacy was often low. Nurses felt that they did not have enough knowledge and skills required for professional practice (Newhouse, Hoffman, & Hairston, 2007). This often led into stressful transition and the ability to care for a patient even harder. New graduate nurses often had difficulty maintaining leadership role. They often felt that they did not have the ability to self advocate and raise their voice to be heard by others. They often feared that they would be over heard and that no one would listen to them (Mooney, 2007).

The purpose of this paper is to discuss two things: the legislative process, and workplace issues, more specifically mandatory overtime. Once the legislative process is explained I will go into discussing the issue of mandatory overtime when it comes to registered nurses. Pros and cons of mandatory overtime will be viewed. Once that evidence is presented, I will continue to discuss my position and provide support for my stance. After I have done that, I will include a letter written to local legislators stating my position.

Current internal and external hospital stressors are impacting NCs nursing shortage. With the release of many reports from different sources suggesting a change is needed. Most have been accurate in their projections; however, the struggle continues. Strong implications for the direction the crisis is heading, from campaign research to thesis and dissertations, written by professional groups and organizations add credibility to the cause; however, the shortage remains. Although some would argue that job satisfaction has no bearing on the nursing shortage and more pressing problems are prevalent; for example, the ageing population, undereducated nurses, patient safety and more positive patient outcomes; therefore, this paper highlights suggestions for change, with a concentration on nursing dissatisfaction and the nursing shortage.

Nurses work in situations that are driven by political decisions and are directed by healthcare policies which are political in nature (Des Jardin., nd). Political Activism in Nursing includes Policy, Politics and Power. However, health and nursing are political and nurses should advocate to be political activists (CNA, 2000). Nurses advocating on behalf of clients or allow them to take actions on their problems/ issues. Nurses participates in unions, and workplace committees to influence healthcare reform, workplace violence and collective bargaining. The Canadian Nurses Association is the national professional voice of Registered Nurses in Canada. Lillian Wald, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton are few of the many political

The National Healthcare Employee Union (NHEU) asserts that the hospital 's retention and recruiting efforts concerning nurse staffing is deficient. This deficiency has led to diminished patient care and more nurses quitting because of the fatigue of being overworked due to staffing shortages.

Resources that relate to patient care have been cut, such as lacking an adequate supply of clean linens on weekends and nights for patient rooms. While resources relating to patient care have been cut, the CEO’s salary went up from $800,000 to $1,100,000 this past year. Nurses have mobilized and created a voice for themselves and are pushing to unionize with the California Nurses Association (CNA) to fight for more resources and better wages. Since the protesting and unionizing rallies, Huntington has hired expensive anti-union companies to surveillance, intimidate, question nurses and try to divide and oppress the unionizing efforts of the California Nurses Association (CNA).

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a full-service professional organization that symbolizes the interests of registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations. The ANA implements the nursing profession by raising high standards of nursing practice, honoring the rights of nurses in the work field, promoting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by pushing the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. Their mission statement is, “Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.” Some of ANA’s main focuses are reformation of the health care system so that it delivers primary health care in the communities, growing roles for

​Are you guaranteed a pension after your retirement? Union workers are more likely assured a pension when they choose to go into retirement. Union jobs allow for a secure life for single parent homes with children that need a stable job and good benefits. Union jobs allow for higher wages for employees. Union members have the benefit to join as a collective power and go on strike if they feel things are going wrong or unfair in their business.

Additionally, the study found that a high patient to nurse ratio resulted in greater emotional exhaustion and greater job dissatisfaction amongst nurses. Each additional patient per nurse was associated with a 23% increase in the likelihood of nurse burnout, and a 15% increase in the likelihood of job dissatisfaction. Moreover, 40% of hospital nurses have burnout levels exceeding the normal level for healthcare workers, and job dissatisfaction among hospital nurses is four times greater than the average for all US workers. 43% of nurses involved in this study that reported job dissatisfaction intended to leave their job within the upcoming year. (Aiken et al.)

Workers have and always will be the most valuable asset a company has. Without employees, no business can function. Because of employees’ worth, businesses are obligated to satisfy their employees needs and this was accomplished by the formation of the labor union. Before the formation of the labor union, employees had no say or voice. After, however, labor unions acted as the employees’ voice to their employers. The historical changes of the labor union have shaped what labor unions stand for today and what they will stand for in the future. By understanding the historical timeline of the formation and development of labor unions, it is easier to understand the problems that we face today and in the future as a modern society.

Early in my working career, I was a member of the National Organization of Industrial Trade Union. I am qualified to give firsthand information of experiences in a union. After a couple years I was voted to the role of factory shop steward. My experience and interactions within the union environment seemed futile in creating real change. If something was not negotiated the employee did not receive it. Outside of picking up a check, the union representatives showed little to no interest in the day to day of the employees they represented, but rather, paid more attention to the needs of the employer. When I was time to renew a contract the employees and company were at opposing positions to the point of a stalemate leading into arbitration. The tension and hostility of this toxic environment can take a tremendous toll on employees and the business. It is not uncommon today to see companies close their doors a few years after a union is voted

But unionization has not been easy. As membership has grown, so has the “bully on the street” mentality. Some associations do not want to be part of such a large organization and may feel that they will be under represented in specific issues, and not all nurses are for unionization. Many feel that unionization with suppress their opportunities to seek promotions, raises and benefits as funds are watered down to cover many professions covered in the services industry.