News & Events
Switalski earns endorsement from MNA
03.22.2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dawn Kettinger, (517) 614-6810
Champion for working families, safe patient care is best choice in 28th House District
OKEMOS – The Michigan Nurses Association has endorsed State Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren), a champion of safe patient care and a fighter for working families, for the 28thHouse District. Switalski is the recipient of the organization’s prestigious Friend of Nursing Award for 2012.
“Jon Switalski’s words often serve as the conscience of the Legislature, and his actions serve as an example for other elected officials,” said John Karebian, Executive Director of the Michigan Nurses Association, which represents more than 10,000 registered nurses statewide. “Our nurses don’t just advocate for their patients at the bedside – they are working to heal our communities by focusing on solutions, including a state government that reflects the values and priorities of working families instead of corporations -- values and priorities that Jon Switalski believes in. We trust Representative Switalski to stand up for safe patient care and to keep working hard to create good-paying jobs, protect our public schools and support the middle class.”
Switalski was recently honored with the prestigious Friend of Nursing Award, the Michigan Nurses Association’s highest recognition of an elected or public official who has shown great support of the nursing profession and legislative initiatives that advance nurses’ role in health care. Previous recipients include Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Mark Schauer.
Switalski is the sponsor of the Safe Patient Care Act (HB 5426), which requires hospitals to develop a plan that incorporates minimum patient-to-nurse ratios and also bans mandatory overtime for nurses. Studies show that inadequate staffing levels for nurses lead to a higher death rate, infections, pneumonia, falls and other dangers for patients.
Switalski has a record as a reformer and fighter for workers and middle-class families. He has called on legislators to cut their own pay and give up their taxpayer-funded lifetime health care. He voted against the $1.8 billion tax break for corporations, massive cuts to our schools and new pension taxes on seniors.
“Nurses work hard to give our patients the best care possible, and we need lawmakers like Representative Switalski who support us at the Capitol so we can do our jobs well,” said Jennifer Sills, a registered nurse who lives in Macomb County. “Too many of the struggling residents I see every day have been abandoned by Lansing because they are not rich or they are out of work. I’m proud to have Jon Switalski as my Representative because he is an advocate for everyone he serves – not just corporations and CEOs like some in Lansing – and that is something I relate to and respect as a nurse.”
The Michigan Nurses Association supports candidates who are committed to safe patient care, including legislation establishing minimum nurse-patient ratios; comprehensive solutions to the nursing shortage; worker protections, including collective bargaining rights; and the Main Street Contract for the American People, which calls on our elected leaders to start putting working families first and focus on the right priorities to rebuild our communities – including jobs for living wages; equal access to quality education; guaranteed health care; and a justtaxationsystem where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share.
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The Michigan Nurses Associationrepresents more than 10,000 registered nurses statewide, advocating for them and their patients.
