NYPNU received this lovely note:
To Everyone at NYPNU:
Thank you so much for all of your hard work and support, and for being the voice of reason. I wish you success in continuing to fight the good fight on behalf of the Nursing staff at Lenox Hill.
Best Regards,
Leila Percival (former LHH ER, RN)
Follow-up – Leila has decided to accept a position at a prestigious NY hospital. We were happy that we could reach a favorable settlement agreement on her behalf and wish her continued success.
New Temporary Delegates:
NYPNU has been screening candidates for 5 open temporary delegate positions. So far, we have selected two excellent candidates and have spots for three more. We encourage any member interested in applying to call the office. A temporary delegate position is an ideal way of seeing if delegate work appeals to you. We will provide any training that you need for this rewarding work so please consider this amazing opportunity to support your colleagues and develop new skills.
Salary Increase
You should see your new rate of pay in your current paycheck. All NYPNU RN’s received a $4000.00 raise this year. Your raise took effect in January and your check should contain the increase retroactively. Please examine your pay stub carefully to make sure you are being paid correctly and are being properly compensated for differentials and certifications.
Grievances and Unit Updates
Charge RN (MICU, SICU, CCU, CTICU)
NYPNU RNs submitted a host of violation forms to the union office documenting a lack of Charge RNs especially on night shifts. As a result NYPNU has obtained the following commitment from Management.
In the MICU, Management has agreed to hire two travelers for night MICU coverage for a minimum of 13 weeks starting 1/31/2011 and will extend for an additional 13 weeks if needed. Management also agreed to hire an additional Assistant Nurse Manager from 4PM -12AM.
Additionally, the Hospital will hire three full time RNs for the CTICU thereby eliminating the need for MICU RNs to float to the CTICU. The additional staffing should result in MICU consistently having a Charge RN.
On February 4th, Kathrina Suarez and Maureen McCarthy met with Beth Oliver, Director of Cardiac Services to discuss the lack of Charge RNs in the CCU. Management acknowledged the problem and agreed to hire additional staff including 2.5 night FTE’s, an Assistant Nurse Manager and a formal Nurse Manager for this unit. A settlement agreement will be forthcoming.
For the SICU, we reminded Management that we will be tracking charge compliance. Since this is a new unit there is not enough data for 2010.
Endoscopy
Conditions have steadily improved in Endoscopy as a result of monthly meetings with management and a collaborative spirit. We have been able to withdraw our arbitration and hope to continue this model in other departments. Endoscopy RN’s have been ably represented by delegate Erika Cooper and member Sherry Ann Dyer.
Notable changes include:
Three 1:00PM to - 9:15PM RN positions and two 10:45AM - 7:00PM positions to ensure adequate evening coverage.
Arranging for PACU and Ambi Surgery Units to assist in recovering Endoscopy patients after 9PM.
Scheduling UBPDs from 9am-9:15pm to assist with staffing needs towards the end of the day.
Securing adequate and proper equipment
Commitment by management to review the manner in which cases are scheduled and a commitment to ensure appropriate ancillary staff are scheduled to minimize department delays.
PACU
Floating outside your clinical division without the members consent is a violation of our contract. Recently two PACU RNs were threatened with suspension if they did not float to a unit outside their clinical division. We are grieving both the directive to float and the rude, inappropriate and intimidating tactics displayed by ADN, Dionne Reilly.
Charge RN ER
In late 2006 NYPNU filed a grievance to ensure that charge RN responsibilities in the Emergency Department were equitably distributed amongst ALL staff RN’s.
The settlement agreement states that the department manager will survey the staff nurses to determine how many nurses are interested in being in charge and would provide a charge class to those nurses who expressed interest.
Despite this previous agreement, the Emergency Department Nurses are reporting to NYPNU that many per diems and overtime nurses (from other units) are being assigned the role of charge RN. The current ER staff RNs believe this is an assignment that should be reserved for, and limited to, current ER staff RNs who have expressed in interest in taking this leadership role on their unit.
NYPNU sent management an extensive information request regarding Charge in the ER. We have requested a list of all RNs who have performed charge in 2010 and how many times they had this assignment.
Additionally, we asked for a list of the nurses who received charge training to date, as well as when the next training will be held and who has signed up. We have also asked for an explanation of what rationale is used when scheduling an RN for charge duties. Finally, we asked when did the non-staff ER RN’s, who perform charge duties, take the charge RN class.
Charge RN OR
RNs in the OR on overtime are being assigned charge duties and skipping the charge rotation. This is a violation of a 2008 settlement agreement.
The agreement states that OR Charge duties should be rotated equitably amongst all regularly scheduled staff RNs and should therefore not be assigned to an overtime RN. Overtime RNs should be assigned to a procedure room.
We have asked that management comply with the agreement which states that “In all cases in which a charge nurse is required, charge responsibilities shall be rotated on a daily or weekly basis among all regularly scheduled staff RNs.” The RN’s who fulfill charge RN responsibility must have met the requirement for assuming a charge role in the OR. Please let us know if management is not adhering to the agreement.
4 Uris RN – 2 day suspension
We are grieving a two day suspension involving a derogatory comment allegedly made by a nurse giving report. The nurse was giving report to the oncoming nurse and is accused of making the derogatory comment about a family member. That said, keep in mind that “shoptalk” should be in a non-patient care areas.
Fellowship Orientation
We understand a number of fellowship positions have been offered in specialty areas of PEDS and NEURO. Months ago, Management informed us that there were plans to open these specialty services and hire nurses in these areas. As far as we know, these units have yet to be created and are not currently covered by house staff. Meanwhile nurses have been hired, are now on orientation, and have reported to us that they have been asked to sign contracts with a service commitment and provisions not to use any VHF time.
We have requested an immediate meeting with Management to address this issue. Individual members do not sign employment contracts since NYPNU collectively bargains and negotiates employment terms on their behalf.
Professional Development Days
New Year! Take a Course.
NYPNU encourages all our members to pursue professional development and education related to their work. Members are allowed to use Professional Development Days (PDDs) in accordance with Article XXIII Section 4 (b) and Appendix D of the Contract. You can take these days in lieu of a scheduled work day or on a day off and be reimbursed.
For details and forms regarding Professional Development Days log on to NYPNU’s website. Copy and paste the link below into your browser cursor:
On Thursday November 18th, just days before the Arbitration Hearing Management agreed with NYPNU’s interpretation of the contract language and the matter was settled!
The practice of management requiring all nurses on a unit to accept an additional patient over their ratio (when the unit is at full census) will end. It should also stop the threatening and intimidating comments from certain managers.
A memo clarifying the “One Over” Ratio contract language was sent from Phyllis Yezzo, Vice President of Nursing to her Directors, Assistant Director, Nurse Managers, Assistant Nurse Managers, and Clinical Coordinators so everyone will be clear about what is permissible under the contract.
Please be advised that although the Hospital agreed to ensure that their managers are not purposely violating the contract it has been reported to NYPNU that all RNs being one over ratio is still occurring on some units.
If this is the case on your unit, please complete a violation form and send it to NYPNU and call the Union Office. Kathrina Suarez will come over and meet with the nurses on your unit. Bear in mind that it was only because of the documentation forms that were completed and sent to the office in 2010 that we were able to reach a settlement -- if there are ongoing violations we need to track them.
This arbitration is postponed until after March 31, 2011. Until then, if one over ratio violation is still occurring on your unit please send the violation forms to the union office immediately.
2011 Arbitrations
Emergency Room Staffing February 28th
Case Manager Termination March 7th
Cath Lab RN Suspension March 14th
Attendance Policy March 15th
6 Uris RN Final Warning
With Suspension April 25th
One Over Ratio Postponed until after 3/31/2011
We will keep you posted on the outcome of the above scheduled arbitrations.
Legacy Access
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