National Nurses United

Eight nurses from St. Vincent Hospital Filed Suit Yesterday In Worcester Superior Court Against Tenet Healthcare for Wrongful Termination after Blowing the Whistle on Unsafe Patient Care Conditions that Jeopardize the Safety of Patients Admitted to the Wo

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 22, 2024
RN, Patient, Detroit Medical Center, Medicine, Joint Commission, Workplace, Assault, Tenet, Tenet Healthcare, Risk, St. Vincent Hospital, Policy, Medicaid, Safety, Injury, CMS, Health, Mass, Commonwealth, Feces, SVH, Public, Hospital, Triage, Death, MNA, Cardiology, ED, COVID, Public health, Environment, Caregiver, National Nurses United, COVID-19, Legislature, WhatsApp, Hope, Complaint, Urine, Joint, Superior court, Multimedia, Medicare, Nursing

WORCESTER, Mass., March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight registered nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association at St. Vincent Hospital filed a lawsuit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against the hospital and its owner, Dallas-based for-profit owner Tenet Healthcare alleging they were fired for exercising their legal and professional obligation to report "unsafe and illegal conduct and conditions" that jeopardized the health and dignity of the patients under their care.  Members of the media who wish to receive a copy of the complaint can contact David Schildmeier at [email protected].

Key Points: 
  • Members of the media who wish to receive a copy of the complaint can contact David Schildmeier at [email protected] .
  • The lawsuit makes clear that the St. Vincent nurses met their legal obligations to protect their patients, while Tenet management failed to do so.
  • When the plaintiff nurses objected to providing unsafe care, SVH and Tenet fired them."
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

MNA: Hospital Accrediting Agency (Joint Commission) Issues Findings Supporting St. Vincent Hospital Nurses' Complaints about Unsafe Patient Care, Stating that SVH was Found to Be Non-Compliant with Applicable Patient Care Conditions for Medicaid and Medic

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Certification, CMS, RN, The central science, Death, Joint Commission, CMR, Health, Joint, MNA, Commonwealth, TJC, Cardiology, Federation, Saint Vincent Hospital, Judgement, SVH, Licensed practical nurse, Mass, Multimedia, TCH, Punishment, Complaint, Medicine, Safety, National Nurses United, Accreditation, Employment, Medicaid, Commission, Legislature, Public, Division, Licensure, Workplace, Public health, Local, Risk, St. Vincent Hospital, Medicare, COVID, Patient, Detroit Medical Center, Superior court, Nursing

WORCESTER, Mass., March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital, who have filed a number of official complaints and gone public with their serious concerns about patient care conditions that are harming patients at the Worcester-based facility, have had their claims validated by The Joint Commission, which conducted an investigation into the nurses complaints and found the hospital to be "non-compliant with applicable Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Conditions."

Key Points: 
  • Your report was used to assist our team to better understand the organization's systems of providing care.
  • During the onsite review, the organization was found to be non-compliant with applicable Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Conditions.
  • The complaints detailed a serious and ongoing degradation of care, which were based on more than 600 official reports filed by nurses over the last six months.
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

MNA: BI Anna Jaques Hospital RNs Vote to Ratify New Three-Year Contract to Recruit and Retain the Staff Needed to Ensure Quality Patient Care

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Nursing, Professional, ICU, Workplace, Multimedia, RN, Commonwealth, Health, RNS, Hospital, AJH, National Nurses United, Patient, Legislature, MNA

The contract agreement followed more than six months of negotiations and will cover 350 registered nurses who work at the Newburyport-based facility.

Key Points: 
  • The contract agreement followed more than six months of negotiations and will cover 350 registered nurses who work at the Newburyport-based facility.
  • This could never have happened if we didn't have the support, encouragement, and participation of our 350 nurses.
  • During this time, we also have been fortified by the support from all hospital caregivers and our community.
  • The common theme between hospital staff members and the community is that we all care about our hospital, and we all share a willingness to work to make it stronger."

Heywood Hospital Nurses Vote to Ratify New MNA Contract Aimed at Stabilizing RN Workforce and Improving Patient Care Conditions

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 26, 2024
Nursing, Workplace, Multimedia, RN, Commonwealth, Morale, ATB, National Nurses United, Health, Legislature, MNA

GARDNER, Mass., Feb. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses at Heywood Hospital, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), voted on Thursday, February 22 to ratify a new MNA contract that will help nurses continue to provide high-quality care to community members through strong wage increases, the protection of RN benefits, and other key improvements.

Key Points: 
  • The new contract comes as Heywood Healthcare navigates bankruptcy proceedings and nurses advocate for professional respect and safe patient care amid the system's financial challenges.
  • With the agreement, nurses are seeking to address a long-standing staffing crisis at Heywood Hospital created by years of stagnating wages and deteriorating benefits.
  • "We will continue to hold Heywood Healthcare leadership accountable for providing excellent care to all community members in need."
  • "Under this contract, nurses know they will receive competitive raises and that their benefits will be protected, which will positively impact morale," said Jess Downer, Heywood Hospital RN, and MNA Bargaining Committee member.

St. Vincent Nurses File Complaints with State and Federal Agencies Citing Dangerous Conditions that Jeopardize the Safety of Patients Admitted to the Hospital - Call For Immediate Intervention to Protect Patients & End Suffering

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Mother, Skin care, Documentation, Tenet Healthcare, ED, Risk, Joint, Bargaining, National Nurses United, Feces, Nursing care plan, Strike, Complaint, Commonwealth, Infection, Health, ICU, Hygiene, CMR, Urine, Policy, Orientation, Suicide, Stroke, Behavior, Environment, TJC, St. Vincent Hospital, Safety, Mass, Legislature, Rapid Response, Pressure, Failure, Medicare, The central science, Joint Commission, Heart failure, Workplace, Hospital, MNA, Death, Cardiac arrest, Patient, Intensive care medicine, RN, Multimedia, Judgement, Superior court, SVH, Public health, Licensed practical nurse, FC Volna Pinsk, Blood pressure, Restless, Nursing

WORCESTER, Mass., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The nurses of St. Vincent Hospital, who are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) have filed a number of official complaints with the Department of Public Health Division of Healthcare Quality, Joint Commission (which accredits acute care hospitals), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Mass. Board of Registration in Nursing in response to a growing and dire crisis in the safety of care for patients admitted to the Worcester-based facility. Reporters who wish to receive copies of the complaints can email David Schildmeier at [email protected].

Key Points: 
  • Board of Registration in Nursing in response to a growing and dire crisis in the safety of care for patients admitted to the Worcester-based facility.
  • Nurses continue to witness the violation of the hospital's handbook on Patient Rights and Responsibilities, but their concerns have gone unanswered.
  • The hospital rarely staffs intensive care units with enough staff to provide this level of care to the most critically ill patients.
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Merrimack Valley Nurses Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify First MNA Contract Following Strike Advocating for Investment in Local Nurses and Quality Patient Care

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
DFCI, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, AOCNP, Commonwealth, Patient, Nursing, Holiday, Life, Multimedia, ATB, Cancer, Workplace, National Nurses United, Practitioner, National Labor Relations Board, Negotiation, Legislature, MNA

METHUEN, Mass., Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses and nurse practitioners at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – Merrimack Valley (DFCI – MV), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), voted on Wednesday, January 24 to ratify a first MNA contract that will help nurses continue to provide the high-quality cancer care that patients in Merrimack Valley need and deserve.

Key Points: 
  • Those two contract areas were critical going into the nurses' one-day strike on September 27 , which was followed by a two-day lockout imposed by DFCI.
  • "Winning this strong MNA contract shows what nurses are capable of when we work together on behalf of our patients and professional practice," said Kate Mitchell, FNP-BC, AOCNP at DFCI – MV.
  • "We are excited to use our contract to help keep nurses at Dana-Farber Merrimack Valley so we can continue to provide high-quality cancer care to local patients."
  • The MNA also represents approximately 600 nurses at the DFCI main campus in Boston under a separate contract.

MNA: Nurses Remain Most Trusted Profession for 22nd Straight Year, Per Annual Gallup Survey

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Commonwealth, Patient, Legislation, Hospital, ICU, Health, Multimedia, Face, Workplace, National Nurses United, Firefighter, Retirement, Patient safety, Legislature, MNA, Gallup, Nursing

CANTON, Mass., Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid a healthcare crisis that has seen hospital executives closing essential services and refusing to address patient safety and inadequate staffing problems, Americans find nurses to be the most trusted profession and business executives to be among the least, according to an annual Gallup survey released January 22.

Key Points: 
  • "With our healthcare system in crisis, Americans turn to nurses for the truth," said Katie Murphy, a practicing ICU nurse, and President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
  • "Nurses remain the most trusted because as patient safety and essential services come under threat from profit-seeking executives, nurses relentlessly stand up for their patients and profession."
  • Even as nurses remain the nation's most trusted and ethical profession for 22 straight years, they face enormous challenges.
  • 71% of nurses said in the 2023 MNA survey that their biggest obstacle to care is understaffing/having too many patients.

MNA: Framingham Union Hospital Nurses Vote to Join Massachusetts Nurses Association and Unite to Improve Conditions for Patients, Clinicians, and the Community

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Commonwealth, Patient, Morale, Health, Tenet Healthcare, Workplace, Nursing, National Nurses United, NLRB, Human, Letter, Registered nurse, National Labor Relations Board, Patient safety, Legislature, MNA

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Framingham Union Hospital nurses have exercised their right to unionize, voting overwhelmingly on Wednesday, January 10 to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association. This successful election enables the nurses to work together to improve patient care conditions and advocate for the professional respect they deserve.

Key Points: 
  • FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Framingham Union Hospital nurses have exercised their right to unionize, voting overwhelmingly on Wednesday, January 10 to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
  • "Caring for patients in a hospital has never been more challenging and complex," said Framingham Union RN Paivi Ratu-Rodriguez.
  • "Framingham Union nurses now have a strong and independent voice to address the patient safety issues we face daily.
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Framingham Union Hospital Nurses will Vote Wednesday, January 10 in NLRB Election to form a Union with the MNA for Better Patient Care

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Commonwealth, Patient, Morale, Nursing, Health, Multimedia, Tenet Healthcare, Workplace, National Nurses United, NLRB, Hospital, Tenet, Human, Letter, Registered nurse, National Labor Relations Board, Patient safety, Exercise, Legislature, MNA

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Jan. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The registered nurses of Framingham Union Hospital will participate in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Wednesday, January 10 to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) and form a union that will empower them to advocate together for patient safety and professional improvements.

Key Points: 
  • Framingham Union nurses filed a petition with the NLRB in September 2023 for a union election.
  • They have been seeking to exercise their strong, united voice to improve conditions for patients, nurses, and their colleagues.
  • The main themes nurses have identified for why they are joining the MNA include:
    To improve nurses' ability to provide quality safe patient care.
  • Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Berkshire VNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Reach Tentative Agreement on First MNA Contract to Stabilize Staffing and Improve Patient Care

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
National Labor Relations Board, Legislature, VNA, National Nurses United, Risk, Multimedia, Multiple sclerosis, Caregiver, Parkinson's disease, Fracture, Amputation, MNA, Health, Stroke, ALS, BHS, Nursing, Workplace, Hospital, Commonwealth, Patient

PITTSFIELD, Mass., Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The nurses and healthcare professionals of the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association (BVNA), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), reached a tentative agreement on December 15 with Berkshire Health Systems, agreeing on contract terms that give BVNA clinicians a wage step scale and tackle some productivity issues to help with recruitment and retention and address patient care access problems.

Key Points: 
  • The agreement is tentative until BVNA clinicians represented by the MNA can review the terms this week.
  • "Our collective strength as union nurses and healthcare professionals, along with the community and our labor supporters, was essential in helping us reach an agreement.
  • The informational picket was the latest in a series of actions by BVNA nurses and healthcare professionals.
  • In May, BVNA nurses and healthcare professionals held a virtual community forum on the changing state of home care.