For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 06, 2004
AFSCME-UNA Salutes America's Nurses and Their Commitment to Quality Patient Care
National Nurses Week May 6-12
WASHINGTON —In commemoration of National Nurses Week, the United Nurses of America (UNA), the nursing arm of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, salutes the contributions of the nearly 3.5 million nurses in the United States for their commitment to quality patient care.
AFSCME-UNA represents more than 60,000 nurses in 35 states and the District of Columbia who work in a variety of health care settings across the country.
This year's National Nurses Week theme, "Nurses: Your Voice, Your Health, Your Life" reflects the commitment that AFSCME-UNA nurses have for their profession, patients and for improving health care. "While we face many challenges as nurses, we consistently deliver quality care and advocate for our patients," said Kathy Sackman, RN, UNA co-chairperson.
Among AFSCME's top nursing legislative priorities are bills that would require safe staffing levels and eliminate mandatory overtime. Senators John Kerry, Edward Kennedy and Representatives Pete Stark and Steven LaTourette have already introduced legislation to prohibit mandatory overtime. Rep. Henry Waxman and Senator John Edwards have introduced legislation to improve staffing in nursing homes.
Today Representative Jan Schakowsky introduced the "Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient and Quality Care Act of 2004" to address increasing concerns of nurses over unsafe staffing in hospitals.
The bill would establish safe registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, drawing on research showing a direct link between patient outcomes and the level of registered nurse staffing. Because there is no research on licensed practical/vocational nurse staffing, the bill requires that the Department of Health and Human Services study such staffing and develop and implement staffing requirements for licensed practical/vocational nurses.
The bill would also require hospitals to develop staffing plans with input from direct care nurses. In addition, there will be protections for nurses who refuse assignments that violate the Act. The bill would also create a mechanism for increasing federal payments to hospitals to account for increased costs.
A unique partnership between AFSCME and Kaiser Permanente in California resulted in the voluntary adoption of safe staffing ratios by Kaiser Permanente in July 2001. The Kaiser experience demonstrates that safer staffing ratios will also help in the recruitment and retention of nurses. Kaiser Permanente has experienced a 71 percent increase in the number of new nurses hired and a 47 percent decline in the number of nurses quitting. California is now implementing a state requirement for nurse-to-patient ratios and the number of nurses applying for licenses to practice in California has risen by 18 percent.
"National Nurses Week is the perfect opportunity for us to bring attention to the contributions we make to our profession, as well as take an active role on the state and federal levels to end the practice of mandatory overtime and encourage the passage of federal legislation to reduce staffing ratios and protect patients," said Bonnie Marpoe, LPN, UNA co-chairperson.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, is the nation's largest and fastest growing public service employees union with 1.4 million members. AFSCME organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy.
