OCTOBER 2014 New York the official publicationnurse of the new york state nurses association NYSNA election endorsements pages 5-10 2 NEW YORK NURSE OCTOBER 2014 Sacred rights worth defending By Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, unrest,” the very thing that the Dallas Ebola case, where the nurse NYSNA President School Board wishes to omit from documented the patient’s travel to US history! Liberia and the doctor apparently ne hundred years ago, The proliferation of standard- never saw it. women in this country ized tests, scripted curriculum and That is because the purpose of did not have the legal prescribed thinking in our schools all of this technology is not about right to vote. is much like the overkill we see in care – it is about reimbursement. Fifty years ago, our hospitals. Nurses are besieged OAfrican-Americans in most south- with standardized computer-driven The patient as commodity ern states risked their lives if they assessments and data collection, In our current healthcare system, attempted to exercise their right scripted speeches we are directed Revenue has replaced Relationships. to vote. to give to patients, adoption of new Patients, like students in our How aware are we of our peo- ways of thinking about patients – schools, are seen as numbers and ple’s history; the heroic struggles throughput, lean management, income generators, not as unique of so many that came before us so reducing length of stay, satisfaction individuals. Thus, the mandate is that we could enjoy the things we surveys, endless new “initiatives,” for professionals to march in lock- now take for granted? theoretically to “streamline” care. step to a prescribed set of values, The manner in which nurses are practices and thinking in order to forced to practice in today’s envi- implement “the program”. ronment is a betrayal of what we By buying into complacency, we learned in nursing school and what de facto accept that we are no lon- we entered the profession for in the ger capable of independent think- first place. Teachers, social work- ing, reasoning and, yes, protesting. ers, even doctors express many of This is why what happened in the same frustrations. Colorado is a chilling view of what could become the way forward if Factory model human services the current trajectory of things is to All people are individuals. They continue. If we allow ourselves to learn, think, get sick and heal in dif- view our patients as income for the Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.SM ferent ways. The challenge and the hospital, following all of these ideo- joy of being a professional is built logical trends without question, BOARD OF DIRECTORS around tapping our knowledge base half the battle is lost. President and life experiences to impact our Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, MSN, FNP I’ll bet at least half of our read- patients, clients or students in our Beyond voting First Vice President ers are unaware that the Supreme own unique way. The key element in Paying thoughtful attention Patricia DiLillo, RN, MEd Court struck down Section 4 of the this construct is the relationship we to who we vote for is important. Second Vice President Marva Wade, RN Voting rights Act only last year! build with those for whom we are Actively holding politicians to cam- Secretary Even if written into law, sacred providing services. paign promises is even more valu- Anne Bové, RN, MSN, BC, CCRN, ANP rights require constant vigilance. There is a psychological purpose able. However, the most crucial Treasurer Patricia Kane, RN There are open – and insidious – behind this factory-like environ- Directors at Large attacks on such rights every day. ment that healthcare facilities have Anthony Ciampa, RN Freedom of speech and freedom turned into. The transfer of time Ingred Denny-Boyce, RN, BSN, MSN Shirley Hunter, RN, MS of thought are only two examples. spent with patients to time spent Tracey Kavanagh, RN, BSN with machines – computers, scan- Colleen B. Murphy, RN, MS Big brother: in our schools and Grace Otto, RN, BA, BSN ners, pumps and the pyxis – dis- Sean Petty, RN, CPEN hospitals torts our nurse/patient relationship Karine M. Raymond, RN, MSN Veronica Richardson, RN Right now, in a suburb of Denver, as our priorities shift from human Verginia Stewart, RN Colorado, there is an attempt by a interaction to data entry. Even our Regional Directors right wing school board majority relationships with colleagues have Southeastern Michael Healy, RN Southern Gwen Lancaster, RN, CCRN, MSN/Ed (by a vote of 3 to 2) to “adjust” the shifted to computers instead of con- Central Carol Ann Lemon, RN AP history curriculum so that it is versation. E-learning has replaced Lower Hudson/NJ Eileen Letzeiser, RN, BSN, MPH Western Kris Powell, RN more “patriotic” and emphasizes classroom instruction; text messag- Eastern Martha Wilcox, RN the “free enterprise system,” rather ing, electronic reports and virtual Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize winner Executive Editor than mention “civil unrest” or the conversations have replaced real Jill Furillo, RN, BSN, PHN “questioning of authority” to cor- ones. Doctors can enter orders, thing we can do is to question what Executive Director rect injustices. nurses can administer medications we hear, are taught and are direct- Editorial offices located at: 131 W 33rd. St., New York, NY 10001 Ironically, this attempt has been and treatments, both can document ed to do by those in power. With Phone: 212-785-0157 x 159 met by protests on behalf of stu- care – without ever actually speak- the strength of our numbers and Email: [email protected] Website: www.nysna.org dents, parents and teachers, who ing or even knowing each other! our protected rights as union mem- Subscription rate: $33 per year are demonstrating, circulating A salient example of this clini- bers, we can actually change things ISSN (Print) 1934-7588/ISSN (Online) 1934-7596 ©2014, All rights reserved petitions and engaging in “civil cal alienation was seen in the for the better. We already have. REPORT FROM THE BIENNIAL NEW YORK NURSE 3 OCTOBER 2014 A Biennial to remember uring two days in September, converging at Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, 1,800 DNYSNA members met, reviewed the year, attended a slew of workshop offerings and heard from elected officials. Some members attended voting body and congress. Less than two months from the November elections, there was talk of endorse- ments and the prospects for new laws in New York – for safe staffing and a single payer health system. Politics was in the air, and on the podium. Public Advocate Tish James gave a rousing speech, recall- ing the care her mother received from a nurse. State Senators Bill Perkins (see his endorsement, p. 6) and Ruth Hassell Thompson (see p. 7) also spoke. Members were engaged and On September 17, the March that preceded the Rally saw 2,000 members from the enthusiastic. “It’s my first confer- Biennial and area hospitals voice their calls for safe staffing and the safeguarding of ence. It’s a great experience that patient care. reminds you that you are not alone, you are part of something Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. March and rally larger,” said Donna Simons, RN, of “Staffing is a big issue, safety as NYSNA was also in the streets well; we always seem to be under- during this Biennial. In the late staffed. But I’m optimistic. If we morning of day two, September Letitia James, Public Advocate of New keep with it and stay committed 17, NYSNA members marched on York City, spoke of her strong and we’ll succeed.” West 57th Street in Manhattan – enduring commitment to NYSNA and “The biggest challenge is empow- outside the offices of the Greater the protection of medically-underserved ering younger nurses, making them New York Hospital Association and communities. realize how much power they have, the NYC office of the Healthcare giving them a voice and creating Association of New York State. a healthy work environment for More than a dozen elected officials them,” said Bernita Stewart, RN, and other union leaders joined sev- Montefiore Medical Center. “With eral NYSNA board members before New York City Council Member Ben Kallos this union there’s very little ‘us and a large crowd of members and sup- spoke at the Rally for safe staffing. His them,’ so nurses feel that they can porters. “Safe staffing” was the support of NYSNA, together with efforts decide the future, they feel that theme and that message was deliv- for affordable education and housing, has they are the union.” ered loud and clear. been outstanding. “Crisis in Retirement Security and the Labor Movement,” one of two dozen sessions and workshops held at the Biennial, included an ON THE COVER Members put out the engaging question and answer period. word to vote on November 4. 4 NEW YORK NURSE OCTOBER 2014 Continuing a winning agenda for NYSNA By Jill Furillo, RN, NYSNA NYSNA urges all its members to vote on Executive Director November 4. Your vote counts. he election season has been very full for our union, as we stepped up to assess and New York City and in county can- Hospital in the face of intransigent approve a long list of pro- didates were a huge victory. New management. (see p. 11) Tspective candidate endorsements. York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, This season also finds us The NYSNA imprimatur is valued Public Advocate Tish James, a preparing for and initiating – by us, and by those seeking it. number of outstanding New York bargaining at a number of private The Board selected 176 candidates City Council Members and others hospitals in New York City.