New Nurse/Patient Ratios

The time has come! The new nurse/patient ratios are effective as of July 1st on the day shift and December 1st on the night shift. The ratio for all regional med/surg patients will become 1:6, and the ratio for all intermediate and telemetry patients will become 1:4. We expect that the Administration will comply with the new ratios, but realize that there may be some glitches in the initial implementation. Every member is responsible for enforcing the contract. Please provide the Union with documentation if the new ratios are not being adhered to on your unit.

Grievances and Unit Issues

· In settlement of a class action grievance in the OR, NYPNU and the Administration signed an agreement providing for the rotation of charge RN responsibilities among all regularly scheduled staff RNs who meet the following criteria: 1) at least 3 years of experience in the LHH OR, 2) reviewed pertinent policy and procedure with the OR Educator, 3) completed one shift as “extra nurse” precepted by the OR Manager, and 4) has no final warning or suspension within the past six months that has survived the grievance procedure and arbitration. This applies only when a charge nurse is required. On most day shifts, management will continue to assume charge responsibility. Charge nurse education shall commence as soon as possible with a target date of July 1, 2008.

· The delegates voted to file for arbitration on a class action grievance involving end-of-shift mandatory overtime in Endoscopy. In management’s response to the grievance, they agreed to collect data on delayed start times and meet with the doctors about the scheduling of certain elective procedures, but there has been no reduction in the frequency of late cases.

Unit Representatives

We are pleased to report that 24 unit representatives have been oriented and entrusted with their unit’s copy of the NYPNU Resource Manual. Unit representatives are still needed on Ambulatory Surgery, 4 Uris, 9 East/Lachman and Same Day. If you are interested in serving as a unit representative for one of these units, please call the Union office.

NYPNU SNAP Students

Once again, NYPNU is sponsoring a class of 10 student nurse assistants for an 8-week program this summer. They will begin working on June 23rd and have been assigned to the following units: 3 Wollman, 4 Wollman, 5 Wollman, 7 East, 2 students on 8 East/Lachman, 9 Uris, CCU, L&D, and Recovery Room. Remember, you are entitled to preceptor pay if you precept a NYPNU or Hillman SNAP student.

Save the Date!

NYPNU’s 2008 family event will be a Staten Island Yankees ballgame on August 9th at 7:00pm. All kids 12 and under can run the bases for free after the game!

The Onion and Comix for ComedyCures Patients and Caregivers

All NYPNU members are invited to attend a comedy show benefit on Wednesday, June 25th for the ComedyCures Foundation (www.comedycures.org). As nurses we work hard every day to ensure the health of New Yorkers, and we deserve a chance to laugh. Participate in this partnership of comedy and the healthcare community. Go to http://www.comixny. com/calendar.aspx for more information.

Nurse/Patient Ratios