Nurses in the Detroit area are celebrating a $13.6 million settlement reached with St. John's Health System in a class action lawsuit brought to expose attempts by area hospitals to hold down wages for nurses despite an ongoing shortage of RNs willing to work in acute care hospitals. "This [is] good news for everyone in Detroit who looks to these hospitals to provide quality care. Patients get better care when nurses have the staffing we need to meet their needs," said RN Cathy Glasson of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU.

According to a report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research commissioned by the Nurse Alliance of SEIU, over 1.2 million nursing positions will need to be filled nationally over the next five years. The report shows that the shortage may be due in part to artificially low wages caused by collusion among hospital employers. This settlement is an important step towards ensuring fair compensation for the nursing profession and helping to solve the nurse shortage crisis.

"By helping to ensure competitive methods for setting RN wages, we can attract more new nurses to the profession, bring non-practicing nurses back to the bedside, and improve patient outcomes," said Anne Jacobs-Moultrie, a registered nurse and VP of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers. Ensuring competitive wages for nurses would also benefit hospitals in the long-term by allowing facilities to meet their staffing needs without resorting to mandatory overtime or expensive temporary nurse agencies.

At the White House's online town hall yesterday, SEIU nurse Linda Bock thanked President Obama for giving her the opportunity to be heard and offer a front line perspective of the health care crisis. Bock expressed the importance of nurses having a voice in the solution to fix health care, to create a system that puts caregivers in charge of the decisions that affect their patients to ensure the high-quality of care.

The President also had a few words to say, expressing his appreciation for all the hardworking nurses who are there "around the clock" to provide the best care possible for their patients. Calling nurses the backbone of the country's health care system, Obama admitted, "I'm biased towards nurses, I just like nurses." He went on to address the problems facing caregivers in this country today and why we must fix healthcare now.

The landmark lawsuit filed by Detroit nurses over efforts by hospitals in their area to collude to hold down wages for RNs is moving forward. Federal Judge Gerald Rosen rejected arguments from Mount Clemens General Hospital in Michigan that the landmark suit has no merit and ordered the case to proceed.

"This puts us one step closer to giving direct care nurses a more powerful voice about how our profession deals with the chronic shortage of nurses working in hospitals. Nurses, our patients, and their families will all be better off when nurses' hard work is valued and more nurses can remain in their careers," said Cathy Glasson, RN, of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU. Read SEIU's statement here.

Nurses in Albany, NY reached a settlement in a class action case with Northeast Health, a network which has seven locations throughout the region and provides care for approximately 175,000 people each year. The lawsuit contends that Albany-area hospitals violated federal antitrust law by sharing confidential wage data and conspiring to depress wages by allegedly agreeing not to compete for the registered nurses.

The $1.25 million deal is the first settlement of five national lawsuits aimed at stopping hospitals from conspiring to depress nurse wages, and similar class-action lawsuits are moving forward in Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, and San Antonio. This class action lawsuit was filed in 2006 on behalf of thousands of direct-care nurses who were employed by Northeast Health between June 20, 2002 and June 20, 2006 and ultimately seeks to recover three times the amount that nurses in the class were underpaid.

This landmark legal settlement comes at a time when there is already an intense shortage of bedside nurses in the Albany area and throughout the country. According to a report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, there is a shortage of more than 13,000 nurses in New York State alone and over 1.2 million nursing positions will need to be filled nationally over the next 5 years. About one in five newly licensed nurses quit within a year, according to one national study, and IWPR's report shows that the nursing shortage is due in part to artificially low wages caused by collusion amongst hospital employers in a given region.

Nurses hailed the settlement as an important step towards ensuring fair compensation for their profession and helping to solve the nurse shortage crisis, thereby improving quality of care for patients. "This is a breakthrough not only for nurses, but for the people we care for every day. For too long, hospitals cut corners when it came to valuing the hard work of nurses. Our hope is that this is the first step towards making sure that hospitals invest in the kind of quality care that patients deserve," said Cathy Glasson, RN, of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU.

The $1.25 million deal is the first settlement in 5 lawsuits nationally aimed at stopping hospitals from conspiring to depress nurse wages

ALBANY, NY- Nurses today applauded the announcement of a settlement in a class action lawsuit which was reached between bedside nurses and Northeast Health, a network which includes Albany Memorial and Samaritan Hospitals. Northeast Health is the first among Albany area hospitals to "settle out" of the lawsuit and similar suits are moving forward in Detroit, Chicago, San Antonio and Memphis. The lawsuit contends that Albany area hospitals had for years violated federal antitrust law by sharing confidential wage data and conspiring to depress wages for registered nurses. Nurses hailed the settlement as an important step towards ensuring fair compensation for their profession and helping to solve the nurse shortage crisis, thereby improving quality of care for patients.

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Note: This issue is subject of this article in today's Wall Street Journal: "Nurses Win Settlement on Wages" - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123655615815766055.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1&
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The settlement comes at a time when there is an intense shortage of bedside nurses throughout the country. Because of the aging population and advances in medical technology that require higher-skilled staff, more nurses are needed than ever before. And according to a report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, over 1.2 million nursing positions will need to be filled nationally over the next 5 years. The report shows that the shortage is due in part to artificially low wages caused by collusion amongst hospital employers in a given region.

The $1,250,872 settlement, which is subject to court approval, includes provisions to halt anti-competitive behavior by Northeast Health in the future. These provisions prohibit Northeast Health from sharing current and future nurse wage information with other healthcare facilities in the Albany area, and give plaintiffs access to Northeast Health witnesses in order to further prosecute the action against other area defendants. The SEIU Nurse Alliance has played a leading role in supporting empirical research that has exposed the national problem of employer collusion around nurse wages, shown the link between wage levels and the shortage of bedside nurses, and demonstrated the importance of staffing levels for improving patient care.

"This is a breakthrough not only for nurses, but for the people we care for every day. For too long, hospitals cut corners when it came to valuing the hard work of nurses. Our hope is that this is the first step towards making sure that hospitals invest in the kind of quality care that patients deserve," said Cathy Glasson, RN, of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU.

"By helping to ensure competitive methods for setting RN wages, we can attract more new nurses to the profession, bring non-practicing nurses back to the bedside, and improve patient outcomes," said Anne Jacobs-Moultrie, a registered nurse and Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

The class action suit ultimately seeks to recover three times the amount that nurses in the class were underpaid. The proposed settling class consists of direct-care nurses who were employed by certain Albany area hospitals between June 20, 2002 and June 20, 2006. Northeast Health recently announced an intended merger with two other area healthcare companies, St. Peter's Health Care Services and Seton Health, but this will not effect the settlement.

Numerous medical studies have shown that better nurse staffing levels lead to higher quality patient care, fewer medical mistakes and lower mortality rates. Nurses believe that setting fair, competitive wages will also produce a benefit for hospitals in the long-term by allowing facilities to meet their staffing needs without resorting to mandatory overtime or expensive temporary nurse agencies. Competitive wage practices offer hospitals the opportunity to enhance patient outcomes and ensure medical needs are handled by competent, compassionate nursing staff.

Earlier today, we reported on a group of caregivers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania who were fighting for weeks worth of unpaid wages from their former employer, Commonwealth Medical Center. State media outlets covered the story throughout the week, including this report by local AM radio state, KQV 1410:

In an encouraging development, the Medical Center's chief lender, Bridge Finance Group, agreed today to immediately (as in, by 12pm ET Wednesday) pay out part of the wages owed to the caregivers and to provide full payment within three weeks.

This comes on the heels of a week of rallies and public activities to draw attention to the need for fair treatment of working families during layoffs.

• On Monday, four nurses formerly employed by the hospital, two area clergy, and a union leader staged a sit-in at the closed hospital demanding fairness for working families, not just for those at the top.
• On Friday, January 23, laid-off Commonwealth employees traveled to Chicago for a rally at the Bridge Finance Group's headquarters at the Sears Tower. They were joined by SEIU Healthcare Illinois members and former employees of Republic Windows and Doors.
• On Tuesday, January 27, in downtown Pittsburgh, over 100 supporters rallied outside with Commonwealth workers prior to the start of the Bankruptcy Court hearing.
• Supporters formed a Facebook group and garnered support online with a petition calling on Commonwealth to pay their former employees the wages owed to them.

Two SEIU Healthcare Florida members volunteered to travel to Haiti on a healthcare mission organized with the Haitian American Professionals Association, Unite for Dignity and Harmony of the Divine Life--an organization that will keep us posted on future missions to deliver healthcare in Haiti.

We wanted to share the experiences of the two SEIU Healthcare Florida members - Angel Ruiz and Eliane Joseph - who spent a week providing volunteer healthcare services in Haiti. Their stories are truly inspiring.

(Photos of the Mission to Haiti can be viewed at the Value Care Value Nurses Flickr website.)

From Angel Ruiz, SEIU/University of Miami Hospital

I've always had the luck to have what's necessary, to be able to share with others, and to feel thankful for everything and to give thanks to God.

In early October, I received an email from our Union President, Monica, which spoke about a health mission to Haiti during mid-November.

Read the rest of Angel's post.

From Eliane Joseph, RN, SEIU/Coral Gables Hospital

I'm from Haiti. I hadn't been there in a while. When I heard about this trip I knew I wanted to go to help, but I didn't really know what to expect.

My family and my Haitian friends and co-workers could understand wanting to help, but they were worried about my safety. They asked how I felt about traveling with a group of strangers and not knowing what I was going to face when I got there.

Read the rest of Eliane's post.

If after reading this account, you (or, if you're an SEIU member, your Local) are interested in sending volunteers, supplies or donations for the next Healthcare Mission to Haiti in January, please email Valerie.tate@seiu.org.

There has been long-standing debate within the nursing profession about the minimum degree required for professional nursing practice. Recently the debate re-ignited in New York with proposed legislation that would mandate the BSN for future RNs to continue practice beyond 10 years. This debate is of critical concern to the more than 17,000 SEIU registered nurses who work in New York State as well as to RNs across the country.

Position

• Credit for experience - a system needs to be developed by degree granting institutions to measure nursing competencies so clinical and academic credit can be granted to experienced nurses who demonstrate advanced knowledge in various scopes of practice.
• Development of systems of flexibility and support in the workplace so nurses can work while obtaining higher education
• Tuition assistance for nurses pursuing the BSN degree through a combination of federal, state, and employer funding
• Academic articulation between ADN and BSN programs to provide maximum transfer of academic credits
• An expansion of places in ADN programs and increased capacity at schools offering these degrees to ensure that there is a steady stream of new nurses moving towards a BSN degree while filling much needed nursing positions.
• Increased capacity at colleges offering the BSN degree to ensure that all qualified nurses have a place in accredited schools
• Satellite classrooms at healthcare institutions to maximize access and participation of the incumbent workforce.
• An increase in faculty nursing salaries to support more nursing faculty
• A provision to prohibit mandatory overtime as one of the barriers nurses face while pursuing their education.
• Support for programs that offer remediation and academic review for nurses who have been out of school for an extended period of time.
• Assistance to RNs not working in nursing to obtain their BSNs and re-enter nursing practice.
• Support for schools to develop on-line and hybrid programs to assist nurses who cannot attend on-site classes due to work and family responsibilities or because of the travel involved (particularly in rural areas).

To assist SEIU health care members in preparing to deal with the serious flu outbreak expected this season, the Nurse Alliance Health & Safety Committee has compiled this resource list for healthcare workers.

Health care workers are doubly exposed to the virus, both through their normal everyday activities and in the health care environment where sick patients come for care.

These resources cover a wide range of issues, such as how flu spreads, the differences between seasonal and a pandemic flu, like H1N1, and why infection control is the best tool for controlling the spread of the flu virus.

Included is an "employer check list" factsheet which will give you and your co-workers a quick way to assess your worksite's readiness. It covers questions such as, "Is your employer providing respirator training?" and "Does your employer have a written plan for you to review that covers who they will retain and increase staffing to deal with a surge in patients?"

Additionally, you can look at a Power Point from the webinar hosted by the Nurses Alliance on October 13.

This Resource page was updated October 26 and will be updated weekly through this flu season.

H1N1 (Swine), Pandemic and Seasonal Flu: What's the Same, What's Different?
Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. April 28, 2009.
Infection Control to Prevent the Spread of H1N1 (Swine) Flu in Healthcare Settings.
Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. April 28, 2009.
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Response Plan Checklist.
Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. April 28, 2009.
Flu Mandatory Vaccines a Bad Idea 9-23-09 with footnotes
SEIU. September 21, 2009.
Respiratory Infection Control: Respirators Versus Surgical Masks.
General Procedures for Properly Putting on and Taking Off a Disposable Respirator. CDC 2009
OSHA Factsheet. 2009.
Report Brief. Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers in the Workplace Against Novel H1N1 Influenza A: A Letter Report.Institute of Medicine (IOM). September 1, 2009.

Surveys of Healthcare Workers Experience:

California Nurses Report on H1N1 May 18, 2009. Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare. May 18, 2009.
Healthcare Workers In Peril: Preparing To Protect Worker Health And Safety
During Pandemic Influenza. A Union Survey Report. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, CWA, SEIU, UAN, and UFCW. April 16, 2009.

Federal Agency Guidence:

CDC Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting
New California OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease Standard (became effective August 5, 2009):Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard. CalOSHA Title 8, Chapter 4, Section 5199. August 2009.
Cal/OSHA Interim Enforcement Policy on H1N1 and Section 5199 (Aerosol Transmissible Diseases). CalOSHA. September 8, 2009.

Professional Organization Guidance:

Seasonal Influenza Prevention in Health Care Workers. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). 2006.

Reports:

Respiratory protection for healthcare workers in the workplace against novel H1N1 influenza A: A letter report. Institute of Medicine (IOM). September 1, 2009.

Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers.

Institute of Medicine (IOM). September 18, 2007

Video:

Surgical Masks Not Effective for Airborne Flu

Respirators are the only personal protective equipment designed to protect against airborne exposures. Surgical or procedure masks will not protect against airborne flu exposure.

Influenza Respirator Selection and Fit Testing Overview for Healthcare Workers
Your employer must select a properly designed and approved respirator for you to wear to properly protect you. This clip shows the basics of selecting a proper respirator and the gives an introduction to the important 20 minute fit testing procedure to insure the respirator fits properly. For more on respirator selection, fit testing and other related topics, go to the US OSHA website

Putting on Influenza PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers must be provided with the proper PPE, including respirators ( not surgical masks) to protect them from airborne, droplet and contact transmission of the current H1N1 flu virus. . For more on respirator selection, fit testing and PPE, go to the US OSHA website.

Taking Off Influenza PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for Healthcare Workers
This video provides good procedures for healthcare workers for removing their contaminated influenza PPE. Proper removal is important to prevent becoming infected from the contaminated PPE.

Influenza Respirator Fit Testing: Qualitative Method
This video shows the importance of respirator fit testing for healthcare workers who will be exposed to H1N1 (swine) flu. It demonstrates the qualitative fit testing protocol, one of several OSHA approved methods that employers must use. A proper fit test following OSHA's procedures takes at least 15 minutes per person and must be done annually. Without passing a fit test, a respirator will not provide the expected protection and the wearer will be at an increased risk of becoming ill from the flu. You are fit tested to a specific model and size respirator which your employer then must provide you when needed while working.

Influenza Respirator Fit Testing: Portacount Quantitative Method
This video shows the importance of respirator fit testing for healthcare workers who will be exposed to H1N1 (swine) flu. It demonstrates the quantitative fit testing protocol, (using the TSI Portacount machine) one of several OSHA approved methods that employers must use. A proper fit test following OSHA's procedures takes at least 15 minutes per person and must be done annually. Without passing a fit test, a respirator will not provide the expected protection and the wearer will be at an increased risk of becoming ill from the flu. You are fit tested to a specific model and size respirator which your employer then must provide you when needed while working.

Respiratory Hygiene 1948 British National Health Service
From the 1948 British National Health Service (NHS) Public Information Film, Coughs and Sneezes, this clip shows how to reduce the spread of disease from sneezing and coughing. Today, this is known as respiratory hygiene or cough etiquette and is an important way to reduce the spread of diseases such as the flu.

* These video clips are from a 2008 Australian Government Department of Health and Aging DVD "Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Safe Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)" downloadable from their website. While from Australia, they do show procedures in compliance with current OSHA regulations and guidance.

Links:

CDC website 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) OSHA website on Pandemic Influenza NIOSH website on Occupational Health Issues Associated with H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) Flu.gov website Federal Guidelines Encourage Employers to Plan Now for Upcoming Influenza Season

Recommended Site: PandemicFluAndYou.org   Discard fiction and fear for facts and action. Visit this site to get the real story about pandemic flu, such as the 10 things you can do to prepare, plus the 10 things your workplace can do.

(Sept. 1, 2008) WASHINGTON, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President and Nurse Alliance Chair Dian Palmer, RN, issued the following statement regarding the work being done by SEIU nurses and leaders across the country in anticipation of the health impacts of Hurricane Gustav:

"As Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast, leaders of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare are mobilizing RNs and medical supplies to arrive as soon as possible to areas threatened by the storm.

"Drawing on their experiences as first responders to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the RN leaders have activated a rapid response system to be able to deploy first responders, and will be working with our partner hospitals and institutions to jointly collect and donate the needed medical supplies such as nebulizers, vaccines, gloves, masks, and medications necessary to deliver competent care to evacuees and victims of the impending storm.

"SEIU Value Care, Value Nurses RN Daniel Rubalcaba has been on the ground since Saturday in Beaumont, Texas, where he is caring for medically fragile patients at the Memorial Herman Baptist Hospital. Daniel is working with the union's national leadership and local authorities to determine and service the areas of greatest need.

"In 2005, SEIU deployed more than 100 RNs along with truckloads of medical supplies to provide care for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Along with the first responders, the union also sent two of its Mobile Action Center trailers to the area to provide phone and internet access to thousands of evacuees.

"Time is of the essence, and SEIU stands ready to do its part to assist the families that live in the storm's path. We will go as soon as feasible and we will stay as long as needed."

For up-to-date information on SEIU's relief efforts, or if you are a Registered Nurse interested in volunteering for the effort, learn more and sign up at www.valuecarevaluenurses.org.