Members show keen interest in coming PS&T
negotiations
By SHERRY HALBROOK
Among the many worthwhile insights and ideas PEF nurses
brought back from a national conference on “Solving
the Nursing Shortage: Strategies for the Workplace and
the Profession” were those offered by health care
analyst and writer Emily Friedman.
Friedman was the “wrap-up” speaker at the
three-day Washington event sponsored by the Joint
Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) and her direct, bottom-line approach caught the
full attention of the 500 conference participants
representing all levels of health care management and
delivery.
“After three intensive days of speakers, workshops
and forums, we were tired and wondering what else was
left for anyone to say on the subject,” said June
Edwards, co-chair of the PEF Nurses Committee, who
attended the conference with her co-chair Debbie Egel,
PEF Region 1 Coordinator Joyce Degenhardt and PEF
research associate Arlene Zilkowski. “But we were in
for a surprise. In fact, I found Friedman’s comments
so worthwhile, that I took notes so we could share them
with all PEF nurses when we returned,” Edwards
added.
Friedman gave the conferees three kinds of advice —
what nurses should stop doing, what they should start
doing and her own “Top 10” goals for nursing.
“Clip these lists and put them on your refrigerator
at home or your bulletin board at work, where you will
see them every day,” Egel said. “Even if you
don’t agree with every one of them, they should
start you thinking and talking with your colleagues to
come up with your own ideas to add to the lists. If you
come up with some, send them to our committee at
nurses@pef.org. We’d love to hear what you think
about it
TOP 10 GOALS
1 Retention bonuses for all long-term employees;
2 Lifetime health insurance for all;
3 Preferred parking for nursing;
4 All-nurse clinical units;
5 Ethical standards that include nurses’ behavior
with each other.
6 Change in the regulatory philosophy to focus on
what’s best for patients.
7 More nurses to care for an aging population.
8 Change in how nurses are presented on television.
9 Nurse astronauts in space.
10 Expanded search for prospective nurses to include
different places.
 STOP
1 Stop ignoring history. Acknowledge our past mistakes
and learn from them.
2 Stop discrimination. Don’t be a prisoner of
gender.
3 Stop being “tribal” about education. Nursing
has a place for all degrees from AAS. to Ph.D.
4 Stop alienation. We need better cooperation between
management and unions. Adopt zero tolerance for bad
behavior.
5 Stop excluding other professions. Involve participation
of all professions.
6 Stop the medical model. It’s less appropriate for
health care. Start health-promotion and well-care
programs.
7 Stop stealing nurses from foreign countries. It’s
ethically wrong because these countries are also short on
nurses.
8 Stop being victims. Be conquerors!
 START
1 START embracing an aging population and improve
long-term care.
2 START strengthening the public health care system.
3 START increasing the involvement of boards of trustees
or visitors.
4 START mentoring prospective nursing students and
broaden this to include how health care works in terms of
policies and financial considerations. Also keep nursing
faculty at teaching facilities active in the clinical
setting.
5 START changing the distribution of money in health care
to be more supportive of patient care.
6 START empowering nurses from the bedside, so nurses can
act when necessary.
7 START a campaign to foster pride in nursing.
 CAUTION
PS&T nurses:
Don’t miss your chance to speak up.
Return your contract surveys STAT!
|
The Communicator
September 2002
The Official Online Edition of
The New York State Public Employees
Federation
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF backs Pataki re-election
bid
PEF Board votes to back
candidates in ’02 races
PEF joins fight against
soaring Rx costs
Early retirement windows
opening
Q&A on 25/55, ERI
9/11; One Year Later:
‘Everything is different’ since 9/11
PEF fights for counseling
Victims’ families
grateful for PEF’s help
Contributions of PEF
activists missed
PEF to dedicate memorial
Departments
President's Message:
Endorsements and Loyalty
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization: 8 steps
to success
Legislative Action:
Retirement, whistleblower laws
Nurses' Station: Help make
new future for nursing
Retirees In Action: Lucky to
get 1% COLA
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
2002 Convention Preview
PEF researcher’s
discovery offers hope
Members show interest in
PS&T negotiations
Division 236 at Parole fully
mobilized
Members at Labor Dept. win
back rights
PEF fights big chemo bills
PEF vets keep wagering safe
bet
PEF wins OT pay
Highlights of PEF Exec
Board’s meeting
Member’s kids wins
scholarships
Support true charities, job
security
GET OUT THE VOTE!
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
Do You Prefer The Online
Edition?
How To Advertise Here
PEF Pride Store
Last Month's Communicator
The Communicator Staff
Questions on this site?
Email the comwebmaster.
 Register here on the PEF Member
Network.Click on pefonline@pef.org
 Click
Here email notice
when next issue is online
Site Map What's New Search
|