Grievance / Unit Updates
ICU Charge RN Arbitration Update

As you know, the Union has filed a grievance and has a pending arbitration around the hospital’s failure to provide a Charge RN in the ICU.

The hospital’s administration reported to NYPNU that they have made progress addressing this as well as other RN concerns in the ICU. The hospital has hired an additional Clinical Care Coordinator (CCC) for the day shift, completing the day requirement; however, the hospital is still recruiting for the 2 open night CCC positions. In the interim, the hospital has not been 100% compliant in honoring their commitment to provide a charge RN for both shifts. They have also ensured that the nursing assistants have not been floated off the unit. The hospital is also narrowing down their search for the Nurse Manager position on 7 East / 7 Lachman.

We have been monitoring progress bi-weekly and will continue to do so. The ICU Charge arbitration will be rescheduled for sometime in June.

In the meantime, if you know of any candidates that may be interested in applying for the (2) night shift CCC positions in the ICU, please ask them to forward their resume to the recruitment office. 

Cath Lab Class Action Grievance

NYPNU has filed a class action grievance on behalf of Cath Lab RNs. A couple of months ago, 3 Staff RNs moved into management positions. Since then, those managers have been coming in early covering staff assignments while the staff positions remain unfilled. Additionally, they have unilaterally changed these positions from the current 11.5 hours to 9.5 hour shifts. Aside from this violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, changing these shifts leaves the unit without early morning coverage. We have filed a grievance for this unilateral conversion as well as their posted requirements of BSN and mandatory critical care experience. The grievance hearing is scheduled for May 7th. We will keep you updated as to the outcome.

9 Uris Meeting with Management

On Tuesday, April 14, 2009 Vice President of Nursing Phyllis Yezzo met with staff RNs to address concerns of the unit. Approximately, 15 RNs on the unit from both the day and night shifts were in attendance in a display of unity. Unit Representative Jewrraine Lee, Delegate Kathleen Reid and NYPNU Director Kathrina Suarez were in attendance. The RNs expressed their desperate need for equipment: computer monitor on wheels, blood pressure machines, IV pumps, IV polls, linen, etc. Management said that some items are currently on order and they will check the status. The RNs articulated the urgency in obtaining this equipment in order to be able to provide excellent patient care in a modern facility.

The RNs on 9 Uris are also in dire need of a unit clerk for all shifts as a result of faxed reports system implemented on the unit. Patients arrive on unit without any forewarning 30-40 minutes after transmission is sent. NYPNU understands the hospitals need to facilitate throughput, admissions, transfers and discharges; however the RNs need the appropriate ancillary staff to ensure this can occur. The 37 bed unit requires a dedicated unit clerk and additional nursing assistants for both shifts.

In addition, with the new medical / surgical mix of patients, RNs on unit discussed whether it makes sense to divide the unit into medical and surgical sides. Furthermore, RNs spoke about team and district nursing and which would work best for this unit. We will continue to monitor the issues raised and ensure that the contractual rights of 9 Uris RN’s are upheld.

Violation Forms

We urge you to continue to fax over your violation forms. These forms serve as NYPNU’s systematic data tracking mechanism on determining contract compliance on a daily basis. We need this data to accurately reflect the day-to-day realities on your unit. Please be assured that this data is being tracked and will result in the appropriate union action; whether it is a meeting with management or the filing of a grievance.

Clinical Care Coordinators

Many RNs have asked, “What exactly are the Clinical Care Coordinators responsibilities?”These are some responsibilities taken directly from the Clinical Care Coordinators (CCC) job description:

• Oversees Patient Care, including: planning patient assignments, directing the delivery of patient care, collaborating for a safe and timely discharge and coordinating the delivery of tests and treatments.
• Acts as a staff resource for complicated cases and emergency situations.
• Evaluates patient care outcomes by: utilizing feedback from healthcare team, patient and family, conducting clinical rounds, reviewing medical record.
• Serves as a clinical resource to staff by: providing guidance to staff in the assessment, delivery and evaluation of patient care needs.

The hospital’s administration has expressed to NYPNU that the CCC primary responsibility is to provide clinical assistance to the RNs on the floor. Many staff RNs express that their CCC is always away from the floor in meetings. This is should not be the case. The CCC should be on the unit all day except for a 9:30am throughput committee meeting. The hospital has assured us that the CCC should be a hands on clinical person who serves as a resource to the RNs on the unit. There is no point on having a CCC if they are not on the unit to provide their clinical expertise, feedback and guidance to staff RNs on the unit. Please inform NYPNU if this is not occurring or for further information.

HIPPA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

There have recently been some questions as to whether or not patients’ records have been kept confidential. Please remember that accessing a patient’s chart is on a need to know basis. The hospital can check to see if you have accessed a patient’s chart without a need to know and that you are subject to discipline for such action. Please remember to log off when you leave a computer station so that others can not access patient information under your name. Additionally please do not to share your log in information with any of your co-workers. For more information on HIPPA, please see the Health and Human Services website at:

Click Here

Electronic Medication Administration Record

On May 15, 2009, Lenox Hill Hospital will go live with the Electronic Medication Administration Record. If you have not signed up for a training class, please do so as soon as possible. A training sign up schedule is posted outside the Nursing Resource Office.

Time Management Reports

NYPNU has received numerous telephone calls recently about RNs who’s vacation, holiday, sick and free time has been inaccurately calculated. We urge you to personally keep a record of all the time that you take off. In addition, the hospital administration has informed us that all the RNs in the ANSOS scheduling system should be receiving a time management report monthly, which is usually distributed to your nurse manager within the first 2 weeks of each month. If you have not received your report or find a discrepancy, please speak to your Nurse Manager and also inform NYPNU.