Michigan Nurse
Building on success - President's column
01.03.2012
by Jeff Breslin, RN, MNA President
It seems like last week I was writing a few thoughts on the upcoming year 2011. Those twelve months went by quickly with exciting new changes and initiatives. Now, here I sit looking into 2012 at where we need to go and what we need to accomplish as an organization and as a profession.
The MNA Board of Directors continues to engage in thoughtful planning and discussion involving goal setting, implementation and follow through in conjunction with our strategic plan. The Board will also continue to review the progress we are making as the year moves forward. This will help to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our members, our organization and our profession(s).
In 2011, Michigan nurses earned a great deal of attention and respect from our members, our affiliate organizations, and our communities. With the failing economy and the blatant attacks from our politicians, we stood up where others couldn’t or wouldn’t, and helped lead the way to a brighter day for all Americans. Our work with the Main Street Contract (MSC) continues to play an integral role in our forward momentum. The MSC started as an initiative from our national union, National Nurses United (NNU), to help heal the economy and defend the working class. Our attention to detail and ability to move quickly and precisely led to many accolades from NNU, as well as other organizations across the state and country, and earned us the title of, "The State to Watch!" from NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro. Our campaign to heal America will continue with education and initiatives within our Local Bargaining Units (LBUs) as well as through larger venues in our communities. Due to this work, several of our state leaders have been recognized as national leaders, which is a trend we intend to continue.
Last year MNA worked diligently to improve the quality and safety of the hospitals and medical facilities we represent. Some of this was achieved through hard fought negotiations with the patient in mind. We have reached out to our members from across the state, to their patients and their communities to help support the nurses who are there for them in their time of need. This trend will be continued in 2012 and beyond. As the guardians of safety and healing, we will continue to provide for both our current and future patients. Our fight is to rebuild our communities by addressing both physical and financial issues, and continue to educate them on what is happening to our state and our country. We are patient advocates 24/7/365, day in day out and will continue to strive for what is right and true and just!
The addition of Debra Nault, MSN, RN, CNM, MNA’s new Associate Executive Director of Nursing Practice, will allow MNA to be able to increase the number of quality educational offerings throughout the year. Our CEAP approver program is increasing in usage and MNA will enhance the program throughout the year.
With a national election campaign in 2012, MNA will take a strong stance on candidates who support the issues that closely follow the Main Street Contract issues. We will help members understand in greater detail how proposed and introduced legislation will affect them and their ability to care for patients. We will grow our political program so we are able to educate our politicians so that they can make a more educated decision on how each proposed bill will affect our health status as a country.
We look to increase the value of belonging to MNA so that every RN in the state of Michigan will desire to join us in our mission.
MNA will continue to be the VOICE for Michigan nurses and other health care professionals. MNA will be the VOICE for nursing practice. MNA will be the political VOICE that will advocate for our patients and our profession. Help MNA make nursing and healthcare what they should be in 2012 and beyond!
