NEW YORK NURSE: October 2011
by Alison Munday
As part of the American Heart Association (AHA) Go Red program, designed to raise awareness and funds to combat heart disease in women, NYSNA and Gold’s Gym are sponsoring the Capital Region’s 2012 BetterU Challenge. Ten women will participate in a 12-week heart health makeover, supported by a personal trainer, access to Gold’s Gym and educational sessions on how to live a healthier lifestyle. Capital Region women interested in applying to take part in the makeover challenge can find the application on NYSNA’s website at: www.nysna.org/GoRed/BetterU.htm. Applications are due Friday, Nov. 18, and participants will be celebrated at the Capital Region Go Red for Women Luncheon on May 24, 2012. Everyone can participate in the online BetterU program at: www.goredforwomen.org/betteru/index.aspx.
Hispanic pre-licensure associate and baccalaureate nursing students are needed for a study examining the relationship between cultural factors and academic help-seeking. This quantitative survey-based research seeks to explore these factors which may ultimately affect recruitment and retention of Hispanic nursing students in higher education. The success of the study depends on the recruitment of a geographically and ethnically diverse sample of Hispanic nursing students. If you are a faculty member, clinical instructor or a person who has access to this student population, please pass on the following website: http://hispanicnursingstudentsstudy.com/ which contains study information and a direct link to the survey. If you have any questions, please contact the researcher: Cristina Perez Stearns MSN, RN, PhD(c) at c.stearns@iup.edu
The National Federation of Nurses, NYSNA’s national union, stood in solidarity with registered nurses of Marcus Daly Hospital in Hamilton, Mont. as they fought for a new contract that included third-party dispute resolution. The nurses, who are represented by Montana Nurses Association, ratified the new contract on Oct. 11. Third-party dispute resolution calls for an outside arbitrator to mediate disputes between nurses and management, especially in cases when there is disciplinary action taken against nurses.
This crucial workplace protection benefits not only nurses, but patients, by providing nurses with fair and safe working conditions, in which they are able to advocate for themselves and patients without the fear of undue termination or discipline. In addition to including third-party dispute resolution for termination cases, the new contract calls for nurses to have more input on changes to their workplace. The language also includes a fair and objective process for the hiring of nurses within the bargaining unit, a workplace wellness plan, and a clarified mission statement of the Labor-Management Committee. The mission addresses care delivery systems, quality, patient safety and working conditions.
Commissioner Ted Handel from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services mediated the last two negotiation sessions, and the Montana Nurses Association says he was instrumental in reaching a final agreement.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is soliciting research proposals that address nursing practice, care and education for consideration. RWJF and its partners formed the multi-funder initiative with a goal of identifying, generating, synthesizing, and disseminating evidence essential to informing efforts to implement the recommendations outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” The types of research projects being considered are: quick studies and scans; policy analyses; secondary data quantitative analyses, descriptive studies and case studies, demonstrations and evaluations; and theoretical modeling. Proposals are being accepted until January 3, 2012, and to be considered, projects should address one of the IOM committees’ major recommendations for advancing nursing care. More information on the recommendations, and on application requirements can be found at www.thefutureofnursing.org/research.