For Immediate Release
Monday, May 06, 2002
"Proud To Be a Nurse"
AFSCME Celebrates National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2002
WASHINGTON —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)-United Nurses of America (UNA) salutes the important contributions of nurses and their commitment to quality patient care during National Nurses Week, May 6-12.
AFSCME represents more than 50,000 nurses in 35 states and the District of Columbia who work in a variety of health care settings across the country. As the backbone of our health care system, nurses are vital to ensuring that our hospitals and communities are able to meet the health care needs of the American people.
This year's theme "Proud to Be a Nurse" reflects the pride that AFSCME-UNA nurses' have for their profession. "Nursing is an admirable profession and nurses can take pride in having consistently delivered quality patient care," said UNA co-chairperson Kathy Sackman, RN. "We advocate for our patients despite the challenges of a turbulent health care system."
AFSCME's top two legislative priorities at the federal and state levels are mandatory overtime and improved staffing levels. AFSCME nurses have been instrumental this past year in working to end the practice of mandatory overtime and reduce nurse-to-patient ratios. The State of California is currently finalizing new regulations governing nurse-to-patient ratios, which the United Nurses of California (UNAC), an affiliate of AFSCME, played a major role in developing the regulations. AFSCME nurses were instrumental in getting legislation proposed to ban or limit mandatory overtime for nurses in 23 states. The legislation became law in Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
On the federal level, AFSCME is on a drive to gather additional co-sponsors for "The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act" (H.R. 3238/S 1686), introduced by Reps. Pete Stark (D-OH), Stephen LaTourette (R-OH), Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and John Kerry (D-MA). This legislation would restrict the ability of certain employers to require nurses to work mandatory overtime. The legislation is intended to stop the growing abuse of mandatory overtime by employers that compromises patient care and forces many nurses to consider leaving the profession.
"National Nurses Week is the perfect time for us not only to take pride in our accomplishments and our goals, but also to promote our struggle on behalf of better working conditions," says Bonnie Marpoe, LPN, UNA co-chairperson. "As we celebrate our profession and recognize our colleagues, lets recommit to work together to improve the nursing profession."
AFSCME-UNA 9th National Nurses Congress 2003, May 4-7, Washington, D.C.
