Commitment, solidarity key to success for PEF RNs

By NANCY WOLFF
The strength of PEF nurses is in our numbers — more than 8,000 strong — and, together, we can rally with a persuasive voice.

For the PEF Nurses’ Network to grow and flourish, however, you must become involved — not only as active participants, but as leaders of the organization.

Collectively, we can succeed in moving our issues forward, but we need individual nurses to step up to the plate. The key to success is to be active and be heard.

It only takes a few callers to get the attention of a newspaper editor, or 100 handwritten letters to a legislator on a specific issue for them to take notice.

The major goal of the PEF Nurses’ Committee is to unite PEF nurses in the efforts to end mandatory overtime, improve staffing ratios and achieve fair pay.

Ultimately, these goals can be accomplished through your participation. But we need your commitment to get involved.

Become engaged in your regional nurses’ committee meetings. Get involved in your local PEF division. Be willing to speak to legislators or write a letter, make a phone call, send an e-mail.

It will be the collective voices of direct-care nurses that will make the difference when dealing with agency commissioners, hospital administrators, and the legislators.

Together, we need to fight for the recognition, respect, and rewards PEF nurses deserve. Be part of the PEF Nurses Network; begin by logging on to the PEF nurses’ Web page here and sign up to become part of the Nurses’ Pulse e-mail network.