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Safe Staffing Takes Center Stage at AFSCME's Nurses Congress

Over 500 nurses attended the 9th AFSCME National Nurses Congress in Washington, D.C., last May. Problems and potential solutions to important issues affecting patients and nurses were addressed under the conference theme, "AFSCME Nurses: United for Quality Care." The top concerns of attendees, according to a survey taken during the conference, were burdensome paperwork and inadequate staffing.

During the congress a bold AFL-CIO multi-union initiative was unveiled on National Nurse Recognition Day, to confront the issue of understaffing. Hundreds of nurses from AFSCME and other unions attended a spirited rally, which featured remarks by UNA Co-Chair Kathy Sackman and leaders from the other organizations. Afterwards, nurses from AFSCME, AFT, AFGE, CWA, SEIU, UAN and UFCW visited Capitol Hill to explain the crisis in staffing to their elected officials and demand changes.

The conference prepared the nurses to be effective advocates. Dr. Linda Aiken presented her research findings documenting the relationship between higher staffing ratios and fewer patient deaths. Roundtable discussions gave participants the opportunity to compare their experiences working with too few staff and share successes in addressing the problem. AFSCME released its own report prepared for UNA, Solving the Nursing Shortage: Best and Worst Practices for Recruiting, Retaining, and Recouping Hospital Nurses.

The sessions also focused on the importance of organizing and improving working conditions. Nurses from eight Resurrection hospitals in the Chicago area told compelling stories about their work situation and why they are determined to form a union. A separate panel was devoted to workplace health and safety. As in the past, participants could choose from a diverse selection of workshops. The classes covered needlestick prevention, workplace violence, effective political action and grassroots legislative campaigns, nutritional issues, and medication errors. Throughout the workshops and the rest of the congress, nurses were able to earn over 20 contact hours.

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