Editor's Note: As nurses develop new ways to organize themselves to confront,
deflect and overcome the ravages of the corporate takeover of health care in
the United States, and the threat of such a takeover elsewhere, we'll strive
to capture the breaking news for wider circulation and unity. -- Sandy Eaton,
RN, Quincy, Massachusetts
A New Day for Nurses - Pennsylvania RNs/Allied Professionals create new
independent organization/alliance with CNA - May 25, 2000
CARLISLE, PA. -- Calling it a "historic day for nurses and patients," 6,000
Pennsylvania registered nurses voted Wednesday to establish a new independent
organization that will represent RNs and other health professionals at many
of Pennsylvania's largest hospitals.
"This is a new day for direct care nurses and a new day for patient
advocacy," said Teri Evans, President of the new Pennsylvania Association of
Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP). Formerly affiliated with the
Pennsylvania State Education Association, PASNAP is the successor to PSEA's
Health Care Employees Division.
The nurses and health professionals voted overwhelmingly in a special
convention in Carlisle Wednesday to create an alliance with the 31,000-member
California Nurses Association. Together the two organizations are in the
forefront of what its leaders said would be a new, national independent
nurses movement.
In addition to CNA, the delegates were joined by leaders of the Massachusetts
Nurses Association, United Nurses and Allied Professionals of Rhode Island,
and other independent nurses in Pennsylvania. Greetings also came from the
Maine State Nurses Association, whose representative was delayed in air
travel. Other nurses from around the U.S. have also been calling to express
interest in the new national movement, said CNA.
"I'm glad to be a part of this history making at the beginning," said Michele
Mobley, an oncology nurse at Mercy Fitzgerald hospital, after the vote.
"It's time for us to stand united. This will give us the opportunity to move
forward, the ability to move forward for safe patient care," said Virnell
Graham, who works in the infusion unit at Temple University hospital.
"We're excited because this is the best way to advocate for our community in
Wyoming Valley," said Sandra Solovey, an ER nurse at Wyoming Valley. "Safe,
quality, patient care is under attack, and nurses need a stronger, more
unified voice to protect our patients, our practice, and our colleagues."
"This sends a very clear message of the unification of nurses," said Karen
Edmunds, a nurse educator from Jeannette Hospital. "With the changes we've
seen in health care and the cuts in our hospitals, we need to work together
with all nurses and force the hospitals to look at patients first."
The leaders of what has become PASNAP contacted CNA earlier this year and
asked for assistance in creating an organization modeled after CNA.
California's 27-member Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer support,
assistance and solidarity as the first step in building an independent
national nurses movement for direct care RNs.
"What's happening to patients and nurses in California is happening to
patients and nurses everywhere. The abuses don't stop at the border. Our
alliance will be a voice for nurses," said CNA President Kay McVay. "By
speaking for nurses, you're advocating for each and every patient."
Several Pennsylvania nurses spoke of the model California nurses have
provided with strong agreements at more than 100 facilities across the nation'
s most populous state, and the enactment of far reaching legislation,
including the passage last year of the first minimum nurse to patient ratio
law in the nation.
"The biggest problem in our facility is short staffing," said Bobbi McClay,
an IV team nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. "There's not enough nurses
at the bedside caring for patients today. We probably compile 30 to 50 unsafe
staffing forms a month. With CNA and the other nurses organizations, we have
the whole force of nursing behind us. Things are going to change."
"There has to be a national organization of nurses," Julie Pinkham, director
of Labor Relations for the 21,000-member Massachusetts Nurses Association
told the delegates. "We can no longer look outside to others to protect our
practice and our patients. Our health care system is in chaos. You're the one
the American public trusts more than anyone else to tell the truth about our
health care system."
Lynn Blais, president of the United Association of Allied Professionals (sic)o
f Rhode Island, brought appreciation and encouragement for the bold move of
the Pennsylvania nurses. She described how powerful their independent
association has become in representing health care professionals and patients
rights issues.
"If you can't speak for yourselves, how can you speak for your patients,"
said Kate Campana, president of the Warren General Hospital Professional
Employees Association in northwest Pennsylvania, an independent group on hand
to support the nurses in their launch of a new organization.
"It was a very exciting day when Pennsylvania nurses came to us and said it's
time to form a national alliance for nurses. Our members believe that
teachers represent teachers, auto workers represent auto workers, and nurses
should represent nurses," said CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro. "We
are going to change the way health care is delivered in this nation. You're
going to set this state on fire," she told the delegates, "and we're going to
help you do that."
Contact: Teri Evans, 610-627-1266, Pearl Kolposky, 724-863-2611, or Patty
Eakin, 215-227-5123 for PASNAP, or Charles Idelson, 415-559-8991 for CNA.
(Ed.'s Note: These Pennsylvania nurses were effectively jettisoned two years
ago by what is now the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association in an elitist
reorganization. For further developments, as they occur, go to the web site
of the California Nurses Association <