Nursing
Nurse to Nurse: Find your Inspiration
Find your inspiration…
I encourage you to watch the documentary, In Case of Emergency, from filmmaker Carolyn Jones, and to read The Wisdom of Frontline Nurses Report: 14 Solutions.
Both connected me to purpose and renewed my pride in our profession. Here are a few caveats that came to mind that have helped me stay grounded and focused when I am feeling overwhelmed and distracted by negativity.
Consider the source. It’s easy to get pulled into discussions on social media or spend a lot of time tuned into the news. Stay updated from reputable sources; go right to the source. Read the studies and interpret the data and consult with trusted colleagues.
Practice gratitude. Consider starting or ending each day, recognizing/writing 3 things you are thankful for.
Use your voice. As nurses, we are educators, and we are trusted. Share the facts, focus on the evidence, and be honest about how much remains unknown about COVID-19.
Avoid engaging. While we can’t control the actions of others, we can control our own reactions.
Surround yourself with positive people. When you are presented with negativity, take a deep breath and listen. Often, that is enough. If not, see #4!
Escape. Make time for the things that bring you joy, whether it’s getting outside, reading a novel, or cooking something new. Self-care is more important than ever.
Look for the silver lining. For me, my college-aged kids returning home last spring gave us time together as a family that we would not have otherwise had. I will treasure the memories that we made during that time.
Smile. Even behind your mask ????
Say hello. Reach out to others, whether greeting them during your walk, making a call or text, or sending a note in the mail. Stay connected.
Nurse to Nurse: Welcome our newest nurses to the Riverside Family
We are delighted to have the following nurses join our team. On behalf of everyone at Riverside, we would like to extend our warmest welcome and good wishes to the newest Riverside Nurses!
Nurse to Nurse: Focusing on the Good
I am sure that you will agree that 2020 has been one of the most challenging and difficult years in our lifetime.
Riverside Nurses, like many nurses across the globe, have been on the front lines caring for patients without fail or fear in the face of the ongoing pandemic. During the hardships, staff have continued to forge ahead and keep the focus on living our mission of providing our kindest touch and strongest commitment to excellence! We have not overcome Covid-19, but there is a glimmer of hope that we will be able to ease the damaging effects of this virus in the near future. I encourage you all to remain hopeful, prayerful, and vigilant in slowing the spread through practicing the recommended safety measures.
We have entered the holiday season and I want to express my sincere gratitude for the resilience, teamwork, and compassion our nursing team continues to exhibit through these challenging times. It’s during these moments that I find myself focusing my energy on finding the good in every situation. There are many good things happening here at Riverside. There are nurses who are grateful for their Riverside family, and who have banded together during these last several weeks to lift each other up and persevere through trying times. Our teamwork shows us that we are stronger when we are together.
During recent leader rounds nurses on the COVID Unit shared what they are grateful for:
Kate D. 5E RN- “I am thankful for how strong our team is.”
Cassaundra F. 5E RN- “I am thankful for coffee-it gets us through.”
Melissa B. 5E RN- “Things are great overall. Our team is working under tough conditions, and they are pulling together and supporting each other, which makes things better.”
Tara K. – “I am thankful for my salvation, my family, and my faith.”
Many staff expressed sincere gratitude for the overwhelming support the Inpatient Tower has received from the Manpower Pool support staff. The Riverside Family has really exemplified the “One Riverside” mantra.
All of the staff throughout the inpatient nursing tower have shared that they are thankful for the new Massimo® vital signs machine that have EMR integration. This new technology enhances our care by providing the following:
- Replaces current NIBP machines past support life cycle
- Improves work efficiencies
- Helps eliminate manual transcript errors
- Easy positive patient identification
- Designed for easy maintenance
Actions Taken to Improve Staffing
- Streamlined the CNA hiring process & raised minimum pay to $15.00 per hour
- Approved Transport Team for 2020 (accelerated from 2021)
- Created the new Safety Partner role (initial hiring set at 10 FTE’s)
- Posted and filled leadership position: 5 East Manager position filled; IMC & ER Manager positions posted
- Created an incentive program (to staff overnights with Riverside staff) and enhanced extra shift incentives for nursing departments
- Enhanced RN orientation program to support new grads
- Aproved agency usage to supplement staffing (on meds/surgery units)
- Streamlined approval process to fill open RN positions and hosted a job fair on November 18th, 2020
- Reviewed the float rotation and provided meal tickets and coffee bucks for staff who float
How Unions Work
At RMC, we value the trusted relationship we have with you, and we want to continue working together directly to fulfill our mission. To understand our position on unions, it is helpful to understand what a union is, and what a union is not.
What is a union?
A union is a business. It is not a club, a professional nursing association, or a social organization. Unions represent employees in dealings with employers. In return, unions charge fees – commonly called “dues” – which are usually monthly deductions taken directly from employee paychecks.
Today, less than 7% of employees working in the private sector belong to a union. But, like any business, unions need revenue in order to stay in business; and union revenue comes from the dues paid by union members. Simply put, unions need new members to survive and stay in business.
What is collective bargaining?
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between an employer and a group of employees (in this case, a union) aimed at coming to an agreement to regulate salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of compensation and/or rights for workers.
The process of collective bargaining, in which employees elect a union to represent them in adversarial negotiations with management, is often a conflict-oriented process. During bargaining, the union can make demands which management is then free to accept, modify, or reject completely.
Under collective bargaining, a small group of union representatives and nurses would speak for all RMC nurses, regardless of department, unit, specialty, etc., meaning not every voice will be heard.
What Unions Can and Cannot Do
A union has no independent power or authority to change employees’ terms and conditions of employment. In fact, when employees elect to unionize, the only thing the union “wins” is the right to ask management to provide the things the union promised to the employees (e.g. more pay, more benefits, more staffing, etc.)
During collective bargaining, management is required to consider the union’s demands in good faith; but the law permits management to say “no” and decide for themselves what the hospital is willing to agree to. Ultimately, even when a union is elected, management retains the right to manage the hospital.
In sum, the main power unions have is power over their own members. For example, unions can do the following:
- Collect dues, fees, fines, and assessments from their members
- Negotiate and make proposals
- Refuse to act on an employee’s grievance
- Represent all employees, including those who voted against the union
- Require employees to go on strike
- Discipline, issue penalties, and/or fine members who violate union rules (i.e. the union’s constitution and by-laws)
Again, a union has no power or authority to do any of the following:
- Guarantee a union contract
- Guarantee higher wages
- Guarantee better benefits
- Guarantee hours
- Guarantee employment
- Provide more staff (i.e., nurses, CNAs, etc.)
- Prevent layoffs
- Prevent termination for just cause
- Set job standards
- Fire or transfer managers
Get the Facts and Don’t Sign Anything Unless You are Sure
The union’s organizers work hard to make unionization and collective bargaining sound simple and appealing. For example, organizers often promise that unionization will result in “more” (i.e., pay, benefits, staffing, etc.); but these are only promises – not guarantees.
We feel strongly that unionization is not in the best interest of RMC nurses, our patients, or our hospital. This is why we encourage you to learn all the facts about the union before making any decisions, and – importantly – we encourage you to not sign anything in support of the union unless you are absolutely sure of what you are signing.
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