December 14, 2007 |
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DMC RNS ANNOUNCE NEW WEBSITE
THE LATEST ON THE ARH STRIKE
ADDING ONE RN MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE
REGISTER FOR THE MARCH!
MNSA EXTENDS CONVENTION DEADLINE - AGAIN!
CHEMICAL EXPOSURES ON THE JOB MAY BE LINKED TO DISEASES IN NURSES
SUPPORT MNF AND SAVE MONEY!
If you are having difficulty reading this version of NurseLine or accessing the links, go to www.minurses.org.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY!
If you are not registered to vote in the presidential primary, the deadline is December 17, 2007! For information on how to register and to check your voting status, click here.
DMC RNS ANNOUNCE NEW WEBSITE
The Detroit Medical Center Organizing Committee for Change welcomes you to their new website here. Bookmark it for frequent reference and find out the latest news, events and information. You can find press releases, ways to support the DMC RNs and more - visit the new website today!
THE LATEST ON THE ARH STRIKE
Although the strike is not over, the Appalachian Regional Healthcare nurses have accepted a joint proposal made by West Virgina Gov. Joe Manchin and Kentucky Gov.-elect Steve Beshear. The proposal allows the nurses to return to work for 90 days while negotiations continue. In addition, the nurses are celebrating a victorious court of appeals decision which will pay the nurses a significant amount of back pay. For more details on the ARH strike, click here.
ADDING ONE RN MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE
New research shows that adding one full-time registered nurse to staff would decrease ICU patient fatalities by 9%, surgical deaths by 16% and medical patient mortality by 6%. The researchers say the cost of added staff would be offset by the savings from reduced stays, but acknowledge the nursing shortage makes it difficult for hospitals to maintain an adequate supply of nurses. The report, "Registered Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes in Acute Care: Looking Back, Pushing Forward" by Sean P. Clarke, PhD, was published in the December issue of Medical Care. If you do not have a subscription to Medical Care, a good overview of the report is available here.
REGISTER FOR THE MARCH!
Wednesday, March 12 is the date for the 2008 Michigan Nurses MARCH! This energetic day of political activism for nurses at the Capitol begins at the Lansing Center in Lansing with all the latest news on current legislation and more. The day culminates with a march to the Capitol and visits to legislators. The 2007 Michigan Nurses MARCH! was a great day and the 2008 MARCH! promises to be even better. Register today!
MNSA EXTENDS CONVENTION REGISTRATION DEADLINE - AGAIN!
The early registration deadline for the MNSA Convention, February 6-8, 2008 at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth has been extended to Tuesday, January 15, 2008 . Registration materials are available at the MNSA website by clicking here. Take a minute out from studying for finals and register before the deadline!
CHEMICAL EXPOSURES ON THE JOB MAY BE LINKED TO DISEASES IN NURSES
A first ever national survey of nurses’ exposures to chemicals, pharmaceuticals and radiation on the job suggests there are links between serious health problems such as cancer, asthma, miscarriages and children's birth defects and the duration and intensity of these exposures. The survey included 1,500 nurses from all 50 states. You can read the ANA press release for more information and see the survey results at the Environmental Working Group.
SUPPORT MNF AND SAVE MONEY!
Consider giving a financial gift to the Michigan Nurses Foundation before the end of 2007! Because MNF is a 501 (c) 3 organization, your gift is tax deductible and helps lower that tax bill. The Foundation advances the nursing profession by awarding educational scholarships, providing financial assistance for recovering nurses, and funding nursing research. To help support these causes, fill out the donation form and return to: Michigan Nurses Foundation, 2310 Jolly Oak Road, Okemos, MI 48864.
Be sure to check out the MNA Events Calendar for all upcoming events and activities!