United Nurses of NewsBulletin Alberta needs more, not fewer, full-care beds. See page 3

Real care in Long-term Care Part of the solution to ER and hospital crisis

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 Message From the President Published by the United Nurses of Alberta six times a year for our members Editor Production Keith Wiley Kelly de Jong Executive Board Here come the 1990s? President Heather Smith H: 780-437-2477 • W: 780-425-1025 n winter, weather tends to dominate a lot of our conversations. But this winter it 1st Vice-President has been all about politics and health care. The big news is of course the sudden Bev Dick H: 780-430-7093 • W: 780-425-1025 announcement by Premier that he will be stepping down. Many 2nd Vice-President speculate a new leader will be chosen before summer, allowing MLA’s and candidates Jane Sustrik C: 780-915-8367 • W: 780-425-1025 I to use the summer months for early campaigning. Secretary/Treasurer Karen Craik Undoubtedly the pre-Christmas wranglings with MLA Dr. and emer- H: 403-720-6690 • W: 780-425-1025 or 403-237-2377 gency wait times added to Mr. Stelmach’s decision. A potential revolt (or palace coup) North District over the upcoming provincial budget appeared to be the proverbial last straw for the Roxann Dreger Susan Gallivan Premier. In announcing his departure, Mr. Stelmach included important observations North Central Terri Barr Keith Lang about today’s politics in Alberta: Teresa Caldwell Beverley Lawrence Christina Doktor Judy Moar Karen Kuprys Beryl Scott “There is a profound danger that the next election campaign will focus on Central Dianne McInroy Wanda Zimmerman personality and US style negative, attack politics that is directed at me personally.” Sandra Zak South Central “The danger is that it could allow for an extreme right party to disguise itself as a Tanice Olson Alicia Steen Denise Palmer Lois Taylor moderate party by focussing on personality, on me personally.” JoAnne Rhodes Daphne Wallace South “This type of US style wedge politics is coming into Canada, and it comes at our peril.” Maxine Braun John Terry

Directors “Albertans deserve to have better level of public debate on our policy options.” Labour Relations David Harrigan Finance and If disagreement about the budget was the last straw, Mr. Stelmach’s remarks may Administrative Services well be an omen for our future. Not just our future as citizens and taxpayers, but as Darlene Rathgeber Information Systems workers in the health care system. Florence Ross Already the lines are being drawn between investment in public services, such as Provincial Office health care, and “fiscal constraint”. The rhetoric is reminiscent of the early 1990s, when 900-10611 98 Avenue NW AB T5K 2P7 we had “Mr. Massive” and “Mr. Brutal” fighting over who could deliver the biggest cuts PH: (780) 425-1025 in public spending. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Toll Free: 1-800-252-9394 FX: (780) 426-2093 One year ago, we were promised five years of predictable stable funding for health Southern Alberta care. If a future Premier and government renege on that promise, we can expect the Regional Office chaos of the 1990s. All the efforts to address health system capacity and wait times 300-1422 Kensington Road NW AB T2N 3P9 will fall by the wayside. Private payment and delivery of health care will again be PH: (403) 237-2377 touted as the solution (at least for those with money). Toll Free: 1-800-661-1802 FX: (403) 263-2908 What will the spring bring? Who knows? Here in Alberta, politics seem as change- Web Site: www.una.ab.ca E-mail: [email protected] able as the weather.

Publications Mail Agreement #40064422 In solidarity, RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: United Nurses of Alberta Heather Smith - President, UNA 900-10611 98 Avenue Edmonton AB T5K 2P7

United Nurses of Alberta 2 NewsBulletin Solution to ER Crisis Province’s freeze of LTC beds, big part of ER waits

or years, Alberta’s ER doctors have identified the shortage of long-term care beds as being a primary cause for the Emergency department back-ups and waits. Too many people are in our hospitals awaiting placement in a nursing home, doctors andF others have pointed out. But the wait lists for nursing home beds is getting longer, not shorter, and the province has frozen the number of long-term care beds. The most recently released provincial “5 year plan” lays out the different major options, home care, supportive living and facility living. The plan says capacity must On January 11th, UNA Local 161 increase as our population ages. But there is no plan to increase full long-term care, at Lethbridge Extendicare held its final meeting to dissolve the Local. nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals. This is the category of care that is most needed Lethbridge Extendicare officially closed on January 6, 2011. to take pressure off our hospitals. The nurses who were with the Local are (l to r): Leah Roche, Matty The 2008 government long-term care plan (“Aging in the Right Place”) also foresaw Blankenstyn, Carol Gwatkin, Kathy Huggins, Pat Morrow, Linnea Brown, freezing the number of full long-term care at 14,500. Meanwhile wait lists for this full Sue Mason. Missing from the long-term care care continue to grow. photo are: Dolly Deringer, Roxanne Remington and Mary Pinches. Carol Gwatkin was one of the charter Long waits for long-term care members of the local in 1987. The closure of the Lethbridge facility closes almost all of the remaining In 2008, the government’s “Aging in often cannot be accommodated in sup- long-term care beds in the region. the Right Place” plan indicated 1,700 portive living, because they require sig- This is part of the government’s established trend of moving to Albertans were on the waiting list for nificant daily nursing care. Too often we supportive or assisted living, with long-term care. In its 2010 budget, AHS have heard of patients sent from hospital lower standards of care, and no RN or RPN care based at the site. noted there are “about 700 Albertans or their home to supportive living (also waiting in acute care or sub-acute care often called assisted living) only to arrive settings for a long-term care or support- back at the Emergency in an ambulance. ive living space.” Hundreds of others are Long-term care refers to a nursing waiting on the list, while at home or in home or an auxiliary hospital with on-site other settings. care by Registered Nurses and Licensed Government numbers show the prov- Practical Nurses. Supportive living is a Long-term care refers ince had 14,486 LTC beds in 2001 and different category and has NO on-site by the end of March 2009 there were Registered Nurses. Only at the high- to a nursing home or an 14,651 LTC beds an increase of only one est level (Level 4) of supportive living auxiliary hospital with per cent over the nine years. are regulated professional staff (LPNs) required to be on-site on a 24-hour basis. Last year, AHS CEO Stephen Duckett on-site care by Registered Supportive living Levels 1 and 2 have reported: “Over the next decade we aim to no requirements and Supportive Living Nurses and Licensed add about 900-1,000 new seniors’ beds ev- 3, the second highest level of supportive ery year, with most of them being support- living, requires only that “qualified or Practical Nurses. ed living.” (Duckett Blog Aug. 27, 2010). trained” health care aides, not regulated Unfortunately, the patients waiting professional staff, be on site. ...continued on page 4 in our hospitals for long-term care beds January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 3 Solution to ER Crisis ...continued from Page 3 The Alberta government Unfortunately, this distinction between Working around the full long-term care and supportive living has been side-stepping is rarely made. In fact, government news standards in the releases commonly group both long-term it’s own regulations by Nursing Home Act care and supportive living under the um- The current Nursing Home Act reclassifying facilities. brella term “continuing care.” Throughout 2010 government repeatedly announced Regulations (which are slated for change the opening of continuing care spaces for with the advent of the second phase of seniors. In recent months, the frequency Alberta Health Act legislation), stipulate of these announcements have escalated that residents of nursing homes must in response to concerns about the nega- receive 1.9 hours of personal care per day tive impact on lengthy ER wait times of of which 22% (about 25 minutes daily) patients in acute care facilities awaiting must be provided by an RN. The Act ap- placement in less acute facilities. plies to nursing homes, usually designated as long-term care facilities, but NOT to Opening supportive living facilities will auxiliary hospitals which have to provide only provide a safe option for a small por- safe staffing under the Hospitals Act. tion of the 700 patients now in hospital The Alberta government has been side- beds and the hundreds of others on other stepping it’s own regulations by reclas- wait lists. sifying facilities – and moving residents – into supportive living facilities which are defined as housing and NOT health care. Canadian study shows for-profit Nursing Home standards do not apply. long-term care lowers quality Facilities, like Youville Home in St. Albert, have been reclassified as auxiliary new Canadian research study says for-profit long-term care hospitals which are not subject to the facilities tend to provide lower quality care. The report from Nursing Home standards. At Youville, the Institute for Research on Public Policy reviewed the RN staffing for the Day and Evening US and Canadian research on the ownership and quality of services A shifts is dropping from a total of eight in these facilities. The report concludes that for-profit facilities are RNs to just two RNs on day shift and less likely to provide quality care than nonprofit or public facilities. just one on evenings. The study points out that one of the principal mechanisms for generating profit is reducing staffing levels, which results in an WHAT NURSES ARE SAYING: inferior quality of care. As a result the authors recommend that legislated minimum “Ambulances bring us patients from the staffing levels be adopted, and that adequate ongoing funding be assisted living facility all the time. They fall, or provided to meet these benchmarks, including a budget envelope they get their meds confused. There is no nurse specifically dedicated to direct nursing care. on site, so the staff just call the ambulance. They They also recommend that provinces reverse the trend of fund- come in, usually we do an assessment, which ing more and more for-profit facilities and “public sector funding, could have just as easily been done at their site rather than private capital, be used to build new facilities, and that by an RN. It’s a colossal waste and a terrible nonprofit organizations be offered the loans and the technical sup- way to treat these people. So many of them port necessary to enable them to bid competitively on new residen- must be terrified to go in the ambulance. They tial care projects.” must think it’s their last ride. Having RNs on A full copy of the report is available on the IRPP site could save so much grief and money.” website: www.irpp.org/summary.php?id=359 – Alberta ER nurse.

United Nurses of Alberta 4 NewsBulletin Secret privatization plan Truth comes out on secret plan behind Alberta Health Act

espite loud public protests, the Alberta government used closure to force “What Bill 17 [the Alberta through the Alberta Health Act last fall. But even before it pushed the Health Act] sets us up for legislation through, claiming it was not at all about privatization, a major Dgovernment policy document leaked out, revealing the real agenda behind the act. is public money for private “This is one of the most serious issues Albertans have ever faced – a back-door, delivery. It’s public money middle of the night attempt by a deceitful government to move to two-tiered, Amer- for private privilege.” ican-style health care,” said Liberal Leader when he released the leaked – President Heather Smith speaking government document last November. at the Dec. 4 2010 rally about the Alberta Health Act The government policy paper was Early in December the NDP released presented to the provincial Conserva- a second leaked government document, a tive Caucus July 5, 2010. It revealed the “Timing and Process Map.” Alberta Health Act is a key legislative NDP Leader Brian Mason said “A component in moving to a privatized, few days ago the health minister told two-tier health care system with only “es- us repeatedly there is no agenda and no sential” care provided publicly and many secret plan. He claimed to know nothing more services provided by for-profit of a July 5 meeting, and said the leaked ...continued on page 6 healthcare business. document was nothing but a summary of public opinion.”

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 5 Secret privatization plan ...continued from Page 5

“Now we can clearly show Zwozdesky The document also showed it planned didn’t tell the truth.” to allow doctors to work both for the public system, and for their own business MLA Raj Sherman, who was the par- at the same time. This change alone cre- liamentary assistant for health before be- ates a tremendous business opportunity ing fired from the Tory caucus in Novem- for doctors and health entrepreneurs, as ber, said he understood the ideas in the a way to charge separately (extra bill) leaked document were to be introduced for some services. It would escalate the following the next provincial election. charges Albertans could be required to The leaked government 27- page docu- pay out-of-pocket for health care. ment, titled Alberta’s Health Legislation: Moving Forward, advocates policies that would shrink and undermine the public Reducing services health system, a direction that is consis- covered by Medicare tent with this government’s track record “Moving Forward” proposes to “Es- and which Albertan’s have consistently tablish Essential Services” what it calls and repeatedly rejected. “fully-funded, partially funded, and The paper shows that Phase 2 of the unfunded services.” process, after the Health Act is “replac- The plan is re-defining what is in the ing the five statutes” meaning the core medicare basket on the basis of ‘essential’ Medicare laws of the province. This was and ‘non-essential’ health care services. originally the plan for the Act itself but This could effectively create a small core MLA Raj Sherman addresses controversy forced the government to put of publicly funded ‘emergency’ services, Friends of Medicare Rally it to Phase 2, which apparently comes de-listing the balance of health care only after the next election. services and opening them to private funding and for-profit delivery.

Forcing Albertans to pay directly or buy more private insurance

The leaked plan said it would make changes to allow private insurance to cover more services, presumably delisted services, but possibly even publicly-deliv- ered services. Amazingly, the document says “Prohibiting private insurance limits choice.” The reality is forcing Albertans to buy more private insurance and rely on it to cover services, is a major change in Americanizing our health services. UNA published a full expose on the Alberta Health Act and what the secret government documents revealed. You can download it from the UNA website at: http://www.una.ab.ca/news/archive/pdfs/ LeakAlbertaHealthAct.pdf

United Nurses of Alberta 6 NewsBulletin Professional Responsibility PRCs at Alberta Children’s in Calgary result in real improvements to patient safety

urses on the paediatric men- Jennifer is the co-chair, together with an tal health unit at the Alberta employer representative, of the Professional Professional Responsibility

Children’s Hospital in Calgary Responsibility Committee at the hospital. e. REPORT FORM This form should be used to identify concerns of employees relating to patient/client/resident care you Immediately fi le this form with your Local Union. Keep theSuch yellow concerns copy include for shortage your of records. staff, unsafe working conditions, placement in areas wher ______esidents and any other Local File #: are not trained or oriented, conditions that are unsafe for patients/clients/r Local #: ______situation that puts care in jeopardy. are seeing some big changes as a result of ______Employer: ______“As there were numerous PRCs being Worksite (ward/unit/offi ce): ______f or doctors): Date & Time/Shift: ______N Date of Meeting with Supervisor/Manager: their hard work and commitment to their (Do not use names of patients, clients, residents, staf filed with minimal immediate results, the Detailed Description of Incident/Issue ______work environment and patients. They ______local executive, with the support of the ______brought their concerns to the Profession- Recommendations: staff, decided to progress to the next stage ______Phone No. al Responsibility Committee and now are ______E-Mail Date to meet with the AHS CEO,” says Rob ______Name (Printed) ncident report is required. ______your Employer’s policy to see if an i seeing some real improvements. Signature CEP - Kd • 2006 October • Form PRC employer’s incident report forms. Check

This report does not replace the • (780) 426-2093 (fax)

Catena, Local 95 President. on AB • T5K 2P7 • (780) 425-1025

900-10611 98 Avenue • Edmont There have been changes with better- White - UNA Professional Responsibility Committee • Yellow - Employee The meetings went ahead and the trained security, staff have personal walkie AHS response, in a letter from Vice- talkies, panic alarms are being installed President Lori Anderson, indicates and a special high observation room is several initiatives are underway to address The PRCs documented being built, all as a result of the safety the nurses’ safety concerns. Besides the concerns raised by nurses. An overcapac- several dangerous incidents security improvements, AHS says it will ity bed and another bed were closed and put a priority on filling some of the 4.89 a new nursing staff rotation is on the way. where staff and security FTE vacancies on the unit. UNA Local 95 Vice President Jennifer were attacked and where Jennifer Borgland says that some of Borgland says, “It’s a success story... it did these initiatives still have to be imple- take a long time...but we are seeing results.” other patients were put in mented. But the nurses on the unit have It began last summer with nurses filing been encouraged by the progress. harm’s way. Professional Responsibility Committee “They are getting a new rotation by complaint forms. the end of the month, and they are very The PRCs documented several danger- hopeful,” Jennifer Borgland says. ous incidents where staff and security President Rob Catenda says that “al- were attacked and where other patients though several of the recommendations were put in harm’s way. will be implemented there still remain “In one month we received many PRCs outstanding issues.” and we knew we had to raise the con- “The local executive hopes that after cerns. The management side was over- further collaboration, these additional whelmed with what the staff had to go issues will also be addressed.” through and how patient safety was being jeopardized,” Jennifer Borgland says. “The staff were unhappy and they were Local 95 executive losing senior nursing staff because the (l to r): Secretary- perception was their concerns were not Treasurer Suzanne Neild, Vice-President being addressed,” she said. Jen Borgland, and President Rob Catena.

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 7 Keeping Healthy at Work Fatigue Worn out and worn down

atigue has been defined as a subjective feeling of What are the factors that contribute tiredness and exhaustion that is an unrelenting to fatigue in the workplace? overall condition. It can significantly interfere with an individual’s physical and cognitive ability to In a recently released study, Nurse Fatigue and Patient F Safety, conducted by the Canadian Nurses Association function at their normal capacity and may persist despite periods of rest. and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario the following were identified as the top factors contributing What are the signs of fatigue? to fatigue in nurses. ‚‚ increased workload ‚‚ high levels of ‚‚ tiredness ‚‚ giddiness ‚ patient acuity ‚ ‚ ‚ working short-staffed ‚ sleepiness including ‚ loss of appetite ‚ ‚ ‚ functionally disorganized falling asleep against your ‚ ‚ increasing expectations ‚ digestive problems workplaces will (“micro sleeps”) from patients ‚‚ increased susceptibility ‚ ‚‚ irritability and families ‚ relentless change to illness within the workplace What are the effects of fatigue The factors list above can all be characterized as work- in the workplace? place organizational factors or stressors. There are other factors that cause fatigue which include: Fatigue can effect and individual’s physical and health ‚‚ shift work ‚‚ mandatory and/or which also affects their ability to provide safe patient care. “guilt” overtime ‚‚ extended work hours ‚‚ reduced decision ‚‚ unable to stay awake making ability ‚‚ loss of memory or What can you do? ‚‚ reduced productivity ability to recall details and performance ‚‚ reduced reaction time As part of your responsibilities as a health care profes- ‚ sional covered by the Alberta Health Professions Act ‚ reduced attention ‚‚ increased workplace to detail you are required to assess your own fitness to work and illness and injuries to not work if you are unfit to practice. In a study that looked at the effect of fatigue (hours Therefore it is imperative that you do not agree to of wakefulness) on performance researchers found that work excessive hours and you track your hours of sleep moderate levels of fatigue produce higher levels of and your hours of wakefulness. impairment than alcohol intoxication. After 17 hours If you are mandated to work overtime and/or double of sustained wakefulness an individual’s psychomotor shifts and you do not feel that you are fit to work, you performance decreased to a level equivalent to perfor- need to notify your supervisor of your concerns as soon as mance impairment at a blood alcohol concentration of possible. If you are still required to work you should con- 0.05%. After 24 hours of wakefulness the impairment tact your local representative or labour relations officer. was equivalent to the performance deficit observed at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%.

United Nurses of Alberta 8 NewsBulletin Nursing the Future Award Young Alberta nurse gets national Nursing the Future award

hannon André recently won the New Graduate Leadership Excel- lence Award from Nursing the Future,S a national not-for-profit orga- nization that aims to assist new nursing graduates transition from student to professional practice. Shannon André works at the WestView Health Center in Stony Plain. She has been the Edmon- ton Chapter Coordinator for NTF since May 2009. In December she travelled to Toronto for the 6th Annual Workplace Integration of New Nurses (WINN) – Nursing The Future (NTF) Conference. “I felt very honoured,” Shannon said lat- er, “because I was nominated by my peers.” She said she was also surprised because she didn’t learn about it until just a couple of days before she left for the conference. Another Alberta nurse Lindsey White, who works at the Hospital, was also nominated. She’s been involved with NTF for some time and edits the local NTF newsletter. Shannon herself said the program “We reach out to new nurses across Shannon André (right) receives “helped me through my first year… I her NTF award along with Nova Canada – help them out as much as pos- learned that although transition can be Scotia nurse Leanne MacKeen, sible,” Lindsey White says. She benefited difficult at times, it is ultimately a positive recipient of the TORCH Award. from the program as a new grad and has and transformative experience. I could not enjoyed helping others. become the nurse I want to be without Lindsey White is Chief Editor of the national NTF e-Newsletter. Shannon André was nominated for going through that transition.” Shannon her passion and understanding about the has worked acute medicine and maternity transition to professional practice. Ac- during her first year at Westview. cording to one of her nominees, “Shan- Find more information about Nursing The non is an amazing coach and Chapter Coordinator of the NTF Edmonton Future at www.nursingthefuture.ca. The Leadership team who is genuinely 2011 WINN-NTF Conference will be held invested in the development of her team while also making that difficult transition in Halifax, Nova Scotia. into her first year of practice.”

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 9 UNA Education UNA Education programs expanding

UNA’s program of educational oppor- “We’ve developed our new “Know your tunities for members is expanding into rights” workshop specifically for new EDUCATION new territory with programs like a “Know members, and younger nurses to learn your rights” workshop, with virtual “tool more broadly about UNA, about union- kits” and with two new education officers. ism as well as about our own collective Long-time Labour Relations Officer agreement,” says Tim Gough. Murray Billett is taking on a new educa- “Most of our workshops have been fo- tion portfolio, as has Irene Smith who cused on getting UNA activists, unit reps had been doing educational work with or new Local executive members, up to UNA’s information systems. Irene still has speed,” he says. “But we’re expanding that a focus on technology, including special to reach out to new members who may computer workshops. Irene and Murray not have been active before.” join Tim Gough to bring the team up to UNA’s Occupational Health and Safety three full-time education officers. Officer, Janice Peterson also offers Basic and Advanced OH&S workshops for UNA sponsoring members new OH&S Committee members and a Dealing with Abuse workshop that all NA is funding 20 members-at-large to attend the CFNU UNA members can attend. 2011 Convention, and 7 members-at-large to attend the CLC The schedule of upcoming workshops Triennial Convention. UNA will attempt to send some Youth is available on line, on the UNA website delegates to these conventions. Youth is define as under 30 years of age. U (Look for Education on the left column) Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and on UNA Net (check the Education 30th Anniversary - 2011 Convention Conference). To find out more, contact June 13-17, 2011, Winnipeg Manitoba UNA Provincial Office 1-800-252-9394 Funding includes registration, travel, accommodation and necessary Leaves of Absence. (Members are encouraged (or 780 425-1025) to use Professional Development Day, where possible) Name:______Local#:______UNA Education Workshops Address:______Available for ALL members Phone:______Email:______

Cell:______Under 30 years of age? Yes No • Dealing with Abuse Entry for the draw must be received at Provincial Office by 16:30 March 14, 2011. • Know your rights!

Canadian Labour Congress Available for Local representatives Triennial Convention May 8-13, 2011, Vancouver, BC • How to Run a Local Funding includes registration, travel, accommodation (for new Local Executive members) and necessary Leaves of Absence. • Treasurers’ Workshop Name:______Local#:______(for Local President and Treasurer) Address:______• Professional Responsibility Committee Phone:______Email:______(for new PRC Committee members)

Cell:______Under 30 years of age? Yes No • Grievance (for new Grievance Committee members) Entry for the draw must be received at Provincial Office by 16:30 March 14, 2011. • Unit/Office Rep ALL entries must be on a ballot – They can be mailed, emailed, faxed, or (for new Unit or Office Reps) dropped off – but must be on ballot. Entries NOT on ballot will be disqualified. United Nurses of Alberta 10 NewsBulletin Communicate UNA’s Facebook brings thousands of nurses into the discussion

NA has one of the largest Face- book presences of any union in Alberta, providing nurses with Facebook privacy tips: an online platform to connect with other nurses,U get up-to-date information about protect yourself healthcare and nursing in the province, and learn about how UNA members are f you have a personal account on Facebook, be sure to set your working to improve nursing daily. There privacy settings to ensure that only you can decide who can are also a growing number of UNA Lo- view your personal information, your profile page. cals with their own Facebook pages. You can find links to the individual Local IIt is your professional responsibility to not post information pages on the UNA Facebook Page or on about patients and their families online, including on your Face- the UNA website. book profile page. This may sound like common sense, but it is sometimes easy to forget. Through Facebook, UNA is able to connect and interact with thousands The Canadian Nurses Protective Society recommends following of members and supporters across the these points in order to decrease your professional and personal risks: ‚ province. UNA posts updates, links, ‚ avoid posting/sharing ‚‚ be aware that it is difficult news stories, and union information for confidential information: to ascertain whether indi- members to read and discuss. All UNA an unnamed patient or viduals providing or seek- members are encouraged to participate person may be identifiable ing information through in the discussions about nursing and from posted information; a social media account are health care that are happening online. ‚‚ avoid using social media to who they say they are; vent or discuss work-related Facebook is a great tool to connect ‚‚ avoid offering health-related events or to comment on with and reach out to people with similar advice in response to com- interests and backgrounds. It has been similar postings by others; ‚ ments or questions posted helpful for many people trying to stay in ‚ avoid posting negative com- on social media sites; if relied contact with friends and family, to get in ments about your colleagues, upon, such advice could supervisors and other health touch with long-lost colleagues or school trigger professional liability; care professionals; disclosing mates, or to just keep an eye on what your ‚ kids are up to. There are a lot of great rea- information obtained at work ‚ make your personal profile sons to participate in this social network. could be considered unprofes- private and accessible only by sional and, if erroneous, could people you know and trust; In discussions on UNA’s Facebook lead to a defamation claim; ‚ Page, it is important to remember that – ‚ create strong passwords, ‚‚ respect and enforce profes- though it feels like you are in a different change them frequently and sional boundaries: becoming keep them private; and world online – you are still accountable a patient’s electronic “friend” ‚ for your words. or communicating with them ‚ present yourself in a profes- Being a nursing professional shouldn’t through social media sites sional manner in photos, stop you from having fun online, but no may extend the scope of videos and postings. professional responsibility; matter where you are, outside your home or on the internet, your activities reflect http://www.facebook.com/UnitedNurses on you and the nursing profession. January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 11 Special Alberta Study UNA’s Retention and Recruitment innovations part of national nursing study

he innovative nurse retention and But few nurses and worksites were able recruitment strategies in UNA’s to take advantage of the innovative flexible provincial Collective Agreement positions. UNA President Heather Smith Thave been evaluated as part of the Can- pointed out the problem at the briefing ada-wide Research to Action initiative on the report. These retention and recruit- from the Canadian Federation of Nurses ment initiatives were just getting geared Unions, the Canadian Nurses Association up in 2008 when the Health Region and other partners. CEOs were fired and “paralysis set in.” The Transitional Graduate Nurse The Alberta study surveyed 64 of the 97 Arlene Weidner from AHS presents Recruitment Program (TGNRP), first nurses that they found had taken advan- the Alberta Research to Action results to the government-AHS- introduced in the 2001 Agreement (about tage of the pre-retirement FTE reduc- UNA steering committee. 1450 TGNRP participants since then), is tion, retirement preparation program and “viewed as an ‘amazing’ recruitment and weekend worker options. These options “Improved retention and development tool,” the Alberta section of continue to be available to nurses through the Research to Action report says. the Agreement. They must be approved commitment among nurses by the employer. UNA’s 2007 Collective Agreement able to participate.” introduced three special flexible job cat- The study also surveyed 24 of 51 nurses egories: benefit-eligible casuals, weekend who had moved to Benefit Eligible Casual workers, pre-retirement FTE reduction positions. But the it only contacted 4 sea- and three other pilot programs. Over- sonal part-time nurses and just 1 flexible all, these innovations led to “improved part-time nurse. Province-wide, there was retention and commitment among nurses very little uptake on these pilot programs. able to participate” says the report. The The study said both managers and options led to higher job satisfaction and nurses saw the TGNRP and the Ben- Report shows the number of nurses some important benefits. covered by the Alberta study. efit Eligible Casual Employee (BECE)

The two numbers in brackets “We benefit the nurses, we benefit the programs as opportunities to provide for show (nurses-surveyed/total- patients and we benefit the system,” Cov- more specialized skills and knowledge number-of-nurses-in-the-jobs). enant Health manager Shelly Murphy said development. The BECE and Weekend in a short video on the evaluation project. Worker were also “positive Recruitment and Retention tools when managers have limited flexibility to offer full-time work with benefits.” Provinces across Canada initiated in- novative pilot recruitment and retention projects as part of the Research to Action project. These projects have a new form of government-employer-union partnership. The full national results are due out in March and will be discussed at a knowl- edge transfer conference being held in Ottawa. UNA President Heather Smith and other Alberta nurses will be at the meeting.

United Nurses of Alberta 12 NewsBulletin UNA’s provincial Executive Board Faces & Friends

Seated (l to r): 2nd Vice-President Jane Sustrik, 1st Vice-President Bev Dick, President Heather Smith, Secretary-Treasurer Karen Craik. Standing (l to r): Daphne Wallace (SCD), Lois Taylor (SCD), Tanice Olson (SCD), Roxann Dreger (ND), Alicia Steen (SCD), JoAnne Rhodes (SCD), Keith Lang, behind (NCD), Denise Palmer (SCD), in front Karen Kuprys (NCD) and behind her Susan Gallivan (NCD), Beryl Scott (NCD), in front Maxine Braun (SD), and behind her Teresa Caldwell (NCD), Wanda Zimmerman (CD) and behind her Dianne McInroy (CD), Terri Barr (NCD), John Terry (SD), Sandra Zak (CD), Judy Moar (NCD), Christina Doktor (NCD), Beverley Lawrence (NCD). Initials show representatives from UNA’s region districts: ND North District (Grande Prairie and northern Alberta), NCD North Central District (Edmonton, Fort MacMurray and area) CD Central District (Red Deer and central Alberta) SCD South Central District (Calgary and area), SD South District (Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and southern Alberta). Quebec nurses reach deal

n January 31, the 58,000-mem- The employer also committed to reduc- ber Fédération interprofes- ing the use of agency or contract nurses by sionelle de la santé, composed 40 per cent. In 2009 agency nurses pro- Omainly of nurses, has ratified its a new vided 4.1 per cent of total nursing hours. collective with the Quebec government. “This agreement in principle finally FIQ announced that 86 per cent of recognizes the work, roles, duties and re- the nurses voted for the five-year deal sponsibilities of the healthcare profession-

- running until March 31, 20 15. The als working in the Quebec public health maximum possible salary increase is network,” FIQ President Régine Laurent Quebec nurses mobilized for months to fight a wage freeze. 10.5% over the five years, in a compli- said about the new agreement. cated formulate that factors in economic growth and inflation. A nurse at the top of the scale with at least 12 years experi- CFNU tops busy ence goes from $62,496 to $66,002 after year with new logo four years in the agreement. All nurses working shift will now be he Canadian Federation of Nurses paid for an extra 15 minutes “reporting” Unions (CFNU) has a new logo and time. There is a 2 per cent increase in the new colours. CFNU proudly flies its premium for nurses working in critical new colours as national representatives of care, but only for nurses who are available T unionized nurses in Canada. on at least 16 out of 28 days. In recent months CFNU has published That same availability requirement several important reports and mounted a has to be met for nurses to qualify for significant lobby effort targeting provincial increases in evening and night premiums health ministers with a new report Experts and that can run as 8 per cent for evenings Evidence: Opportunities in Nursing. and 16 per cent for nights.

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 13 Faces & Friends Faces & friends News about the people of United Nurses of Alberta. Lee McNiven Retires NA Local 33 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmon- “ t was a good go,” retiring nurse Lee McNiven says about her nearly ton had a special celebration for 45-year career. Staff at Diabetes and Pregnancy Clinic at the Peter retiring nurses who took advantage of the Lougheed Centre held a retirement party for Lee,attended by her U Voluntary Exit Plan that AHS requested friendsI in UNA. Lee graduated as a nurse in Hamilton in 1968, and and UNA agreed to negotiate. Almost worked in Ontario and USA before coming to Calgary in 1980, right everyone who applied for the AHS Vol- after nurses won their big raise of 30%. She got involved with UNA dur- untary Exit Plan before the December ing the strike in 1982 and has been active in executive positions at Local 23, 2009 deadline received the package. 1 and other Locals ever since. Lee’s career saw her work on a stroke and UNA had recommended that only nurses spinal cord unit and for years as part of a travelling rural rehab team. That who were planning to leave anyway work took her to sites from Drumheller to Sundre,Charesholm,Vulcan should consider taking the plan. and Bassano. In the last 25 years she has been working in diabetes educa- tion at CGH, and then Diabetes in Pregnancy at PLC. Maine nurses strike for first time – over patient safety

taffing at the second-largest hospi- tal in Maine, with more than 900 registered nurses, had become so bare Sbones over the last year that one call-in from a sick nurse would spell disaster for the en- tire unit and even necessitate charge nurses Lee McNiven and UNA LRO Martin taking on up to six patient assignments. D’entremont. “I cannot physically and mentally carry on like this anymore. I’m tired,” one nurse At the retirement party (l to r): Lee McNiven, wrote to her Local. guest of honour, LRO Linda Harkness, Local Nurses voted by overwhelming num- 1 VP Tanice Olson, Local 121 VP Cynthia bers to stage a one-day strike on Nov. Perkins, and Local 1 22 – the first time ever that Maine nurses President Diane Lantz. have walked off the job. The Employer re- sponded by spending millions on replace- ment staff for a two-day lockout. But the nurses were undaunted. (from National- NursesUnited.org)

United Nurses of Alberta 14 NewsBulletin Know your UNA Contract yourRights

Canadian Blood Services has Arbitration ruling reached a tentative contract with UNA Locals 155 (Edmonton) Nurses required to attend meeting Local 408 (Lethbridge) and Local 411 (Calgary). It is the must be paid minimum 3 hours first agreement for the Calgary nurses with Blood Services. Employers must pay for a minimum of three hours at David Harrigan works with the overtime rate when they require regular employees to Local representatives attend a meeting on any normally non-work day, ruled during the negotiations. arbitrator David Jones settling a recent UNA grievance. The ruling stated that Article 9.04 [of the provincial Agreement] does apply and the Employer is required to pay employees for a minimum of 3 hours regardless of the length of the meeting. The ruling includes such meetings as a performance interview, an in-service or an investigation meeting with management.

UNA Locals reach contracts with most smaller employers Most of the contract negotiations with several other ‚‚ Extendicare – ratification vote on February 14th for UNA employers and UNA Locals have been wrapped all eight sites: 117, 143, 168, 170, 189, 209, 215, 224. up with settlements that meet the provincial salary ‚‚ Agape Hospice in Calgary standard increases. Five employers have yet to settle and ‚‚ St. Michaels LTC-Edmonton, UNA has called in a mediator to assist at three of those ‚ negotiating tables. ‚ Capital Care, ‚ “The provincial standard is clear, and as in the past, we ‚ Edith Cavel, fully expect all employers to meet provincial salary rates,” ‚‚ Grande Prairie Care Centre, says UNA President Heather Smith. Either she or Di- ‚‚ Venta Care Centre. rector of Labour Relations David Harrigan have been at ‚‚ Bethany Care at Calgary, Cochrane and Colleg- most of the negotiating tables. eside in Red Deer. Negotiations continue with: These agreements all mirror the provincial settlement, ‚ ‚ The Good Samaritan Society – sessions with a with salary increases of 0, 2% and 4%. mediator scheduled for February 24 and 25 (for all Most also have matched the provincial lump sum pay- sites, Locals 212, 223, 227, 311, 314 and 316) ‚ ments of $875 biannually and have increases and lan- ‚ Salem Manor – also in mediation, next date, Feb- guage improvements in other areas, including for some ruary 14th. in pensions and benefits. ‚‚ Touchmark at Wedgewood in Edmonton – nego- tiations yet to begin. Transition talks ‚ ‚ Revera LTC (all sites) January 31 and February 1 Talks continue in mediation with AHS on bringing Agreements that match salary parity with the provin- Alberta Corrections nurses into the UNA provincial agree- cial Agreement have been reached with: ment. Negotiations with the mediator present were incon- clusive January 27 and 28. More talks are scheduled.

January|February 2011 Volume 35, Number 1 15 File a PRC! When it’s unsafe, protect your patients, protect yourself!

Documenting unsafe conditions with a PRC form filed with your local Professional Responsibility Committee, is a important first step to making changes. UNA Professional Responsibility Committees have successfully improved staffing, increased safety and dealt with unsafe practises in hospitals and health sites across Alberta. With more reliance on overcapacity beds, short staffing and lowered standards in long-term care, it’s important for nurses to advocate for patients, clients and residents, and protect their own professional credibility and license. The first step has to start with you. File a PRC! Publications Mail Agreement #40064422 Publications Mail