MNA's NurseLine - March 14, 2008

	March 14, 2008

In this Issue:

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MILLER AWARDED FRIEND OF NURSING

MNA ENDORSES SCHAUER IN WASHINGTON RACE

NURSES TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEE

JOINT COMMISSON NEEDS YOUR INPUT

MORE HOURS, MORE NEEDLESTICKS

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WHAT A MARCH!

It is an incredible experience to see over 400 nurses and nursing students marching to the Capitol. Those in attendance at the 2008 Michigan Nurses MARCH! were treated to a wide variety of speakers and topics topped off by an exhilarating rally on the steps of the Capitol. Click here to see pictures from the MARCH! and keep reading for breaking news from the event!

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MILLER RECEIVES FRIEND OF NURSING AWARD

Representative Fred Miller (D-Mt. Clemens) received the 2008 MNA Friend of Nursing Award at the MARCH! for his support of MNA's legislative issues. For more information on Representative Miller and the Friend of Nursing award, click here.

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MNA ENDORSES SCHAUER IN WASHINGTON RACE

Announced from the Capitol steps during the MARCH!, the MNA-PAC has officially endorsed Senator Mark Schauer in his 7th District Congressional race against Congressman Tim Wahlberg. For more on Senator Schauer and the MNA endorsement, click here.

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NURSES TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE HEALTH POLICY COMMITTEE

MNA President Diane Goddeeris, RN and Alpena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) Staff Nurse Council 1 President Amy Pfeifer-Twite, RN, provided passionate testimony about the need to improve workplace conditions for nurses to members of the House Health Policy Committee following the MARCH! The Committee was meeting to hear the report and recommendations of the Health Policy Committe's Nursing Shortage Subcommittee. To read some of Amy's testimony, click here.

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JOINT COMMISSION NEEDS YOUR INPUT

The Joint Commission has released two standards for comment, covering palliative care and the new Health Care Services Certification program. To provide comment and access the standards, click here.

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MORE HOURS, MORE NEEDLESTICKS

From the Occupational Health and Safety Reporter: Work schedules, particularly extended schedules, are significantly related to needlestick injury in nurses, according to a study presented March 7 at the Work, Stress, and Health 2008 conference in Washington, D.C.
Nurses using needles more than 20 times a day were more than three times as likely to suffer a needlestick themselves as nurses using needles less frequently. Work schedule characteristics found to increase the risk of needlesticks included working more hours per day, working more weekends per month, working other than straight day shifts, and working at least one 13-hour day each week. The study found that for every additional hour worked, a nurse's risk for a needlestick rose 10 percent.

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