AFSCME Nurses' Bill of Rights
Summer 1998
UNITED NURSES OF AMERICA
AFSCME Nurses’ Bill of Rights
In today’s money-driven health care system, nurses are expected to provide high-quality patient care with fewer and fewer resources. We, the United Nurses of America, join together to speak out for the health of our patients and the rights of our sister and brother nurses.
We therefore affirm that:
The nurse’s duty is to provide quality care to our patients. Nurses have a right to provide that care in accordance with the nursing Code of Ethics.
Nurses are an essential component in America’s health care system, along with doctors, medical management and payers. Nurses have a right to be included in all discussions to maximize the effectiveness of this system.
The nurse is an essential member of a patient’s health care team. Nurses have the right to be included in planning, evaluating and implementing patient care.
Quality patient care must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of lower costs or higher profits. Nurses have the right to the resources and working conditions necessary to provide quality patient care, including reasonable shift assignments, adequate staffing levels, sufficient support and appropriate equipment.
Medicine is a constantly changing field. Nurses have a right to the time and resources necessary to learn the latest techniques of their profession.
Nurses, who are charged with providing care for their patients, must have the effective right to advocate for their patients’ proper treatment.
Quality patient care begins with quality jobs for nurses. Nurses have a right to secure jobs that provide wages and benefits commensurate with their education, experience and responsibilities.
Nursing is a difficult service profession that exacts a high emotional and physical toll. Nurses have a right to a balance between their personal and professional lives.
Nurses and their employers demonstrate a commitment to these principles through a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement. Nurses have a right to bargain collectively.
Effective health care begins before a patient is ill. Nurses have a right to educate the public about health issues.
As advocates for quality care, nurses must seek alliances with other patient-oriented groups. Nurses have a right to build community coalitions.
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