Safe Staffing Kit
The Nurse Alliance of SEIU Guide to Safe Staffing and Quality Care
This nurse staffing action kit is a practical guide to help nurses and local union leaders develop coordinated campaigns to support efforts to bargain better contracts, persuade enforcement agencies to do their job, and lobby for staffing legislation at the state and federal level. Only with adequate staffing can we provide the kind of care our patients need and deserve. Updates of this material will be provided as they become available.
What's in the Kit?
- Introduction
Briefly describes the problems of understaffing and suggests ways SEIU nurses can work to improve working conditions and patient care.
Planning a Safe-Staffing Campaign
Outlines suggestions for conducting effective campaigns around staffing issues, drawn from the experiences of SEIU nurses. This is a step-by-step guide to help union nurses plan their campaign, build their case, activate other members, reach out to the public, and bargain, lobby for, and enforce safe-staffing standards.
Bargaining for Safe Staffing
Contains sample contract proposal language and model language on joint staffing committees and staffing ratios. This section also includes contract provisions that have been successfully negotiated by SEIU nurses to establish and enforce staffing standards in their workplaces.
Enforcing Existing Regulations
Looks at the procedures used by JCAHO and other regulatory agencies and helps nurses improve enforcement and develop a plan for getting an effective inspection. Also reviews staffing standards at the state level.
Lobbying for Safe-Staffing Legislation
Presents ideas and proposals for staffing laws at the federal and state level.
Improving Workplace Safety and Health
Discusses hazards nurses face on the job, many of which are exacerbated by understaffing. Also reviews ways to use government agencies such as OSHA and NIOSH to deal with workplace health and safety hazards.
Using the Media in Your Staffing Campaign
Outlines ways nurses can make effective use of the media in their campaigns for quality patient care and safe-staffing levels.
Tools
These include sample surveys, worker documentation forms, letters requesting information, and other resources.
Appendices
A. State staffing standards by state.
B. Complete text of a model state staffing law.
To order kits, SEIU members should contact their local. Non-SEIU members should email nursealliance@seiu.org.
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