NewsUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PROFESSIONAL NURSE COUNCIL FALL, 20154343 Concourse Drive, Suite 230 • Ann Arbor, MI 48108-8802 • Office: (734) 663-5657 • Fax: (734) 663-0212

UMPNC

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MOTT PACU RNs use their collective voice and win!

MNA/UMPNC members in the MOTT PACU are celebrating a recent victory for patient safety. Adult patients with acute health issues were being added into the patient roster, and the MOTT PACU nurses felt they had not received the education needed to care for these patients. PACU previously had an agreement to take on a certain type of adult patient, but the patients they were receiving were presenting with complicated problems not appropriate for the PACU environment. Through an Article 48 Special Conference meeting in the MNA/UMPNC contract, it was suggested that a sub-group under the PACU’s Workload Committee be created to develop solutions to the problem. Members who participated in this sub-group recommended that, based on the acuity of adults patients coming into the unit, adult patients and pediatric patients should be separated. Going forward, adult populations will be cared for by adult PACU nurses and pediatric populations will be under the care of pediatric PACU nurses.

If it were not for the members speaking up on behalf of themselves and their patients and using the appropriate contract language, this victory would not have occurred. Well done, MOTT PACU nurses. Thank you for your leadership and advocacy.

New MNA/UMPNC secretary appointedHeather Roe, RN, the District Representative in OR and Procedure

Units On-Site, has been appointed to the position of MNA/UMPNC Secretary. Roe replaces former Secretary Julia Morrissey, who was appointed as Vice-Chair of UMPNC. Roe’s term will run through January 1, 2018. The appointments were directed through the UMPNC Executive Committee and per the UMPNC bylaws.

Roe practices in the UH-OR Main and previously worked in the MOTT OR as a peri-operative tech. She is a new mother and brings a great deal of enthusiasm and experience to the role of Secretary.

Newly-appointed MNA/UMPNC Secretary Heather Roe and her daughter, Ellie.

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UMPNC/MNA members learn the signs and symptoms of human trafficking victims

Jane P. White, Director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, shares some of the signs and symptoms of human trafficking victims.

On September 17, 2015, Jane P. White, Director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, presented a continuing education session on human trafficking to UMPNC/MNA members. White shared information regarding physical and mental signs that can present with human trafficking victims and methods of dealing with suspected victims. The session was well received and led members to request that MNA host more sessions on this topic. The 2015 MNA House of Delegates recently agreed by passing a resolution to support the ban of human trafficking in Michigan and to

offer more CEs on this topic. Watch the UMPNC/MNA website for more information regarding another session on human trafficking to be held in early 2016.

MNA House of Delegates passes eight resolutionsThe 2015 MNA House of Delegates passed eight resolution at its recent meeting, including a resolution to affirm the

MNA Board of Directors’ decision to withdraw the Michigan Nurses Association as an affiliate of National Nurses United. The resolutions included: promoting access to safe water resources for Michigan citizens, taking a stand against “dark stores” tax assessments, supporting fair and transparent non-partisan redistricting in Michigan, supporting a ban against fracking, banning human trafficking, supporting Medicare for All, and working to ban the use of triclosan in personal care products. The eight resolutions can be read in their entirety on the MNA website at minurses.org.

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Join the movement: Campaign for Safer Hospitals

The MNA Campaign for Safer Hospitals was introduced at the recent CE Day and House of Delegates in

Southfield. The campaign calls for a new Michigan law, the Safe Patient Care Act, to limit the number of patients a

nurse can be assigned. The law would also limit mandatory RN overtime. Get involved in the Campaign for Safer

Hospitals by visiting MIsaferhospitals.org for more information. While you’re on the website, share your staffing

story. These stories will help legislators understand the need for the Safe Patient Care Act. To receive updates on the

Campaign for Safer Hospitals, text “Safety” to 52886. (Text and data rates apply.)

Safe staffing saves lives.The Safe Patient Care Act would:

• Establish minimum Registered Nurse staffing

levels in all Michigan hospitals• Require hospitals to develop

safe staffing plans and hold them accountable with

substantial fines• Ban the rampant use of

mandatory RN overtime except in emergencies

MIsaferhospitals.orgor text “safety” to 52886

(Data and text messaging rates apply.)

Number of patients per Registered Nurse in the Safe Patient Care Act

Emergency room 1:3 trauma or critical care in ER 1:1 plus one RN for triageLabor and delivery 2nd and 3rd stages of labor 1:1 First stages of labor 1:2 Intermediate newborn nursery 1:3 Noncritical antepartum patients 1:4 Postpartum mother-baby couplet 1:3

Operating room 1:1 plus one scrub assistantPost-anesthesia 1:2Medical-surgical 1:4Pediatrics 1:4Behavioral health 1:4Rehabilitation care 1:5Critical/intensive care (peds, neonatal, adult) 1:1

“When you’re in the hospital, you’re at your most vulnerable. You need a Registered Nurse to provide skilled care and help prevent things from going wrong, but we can only do that if we have enough time with each patient. Michigan needs a law so that all our loved ones get quality care.”

- Julia Morrissey, RN University of Michigan Health System

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UMPNC/MNA members rally for protecting, improving and expanding

MedicareUMPNC/MNA members joined over

a hundred community members, retirees and other nurses at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Medicare. The rally called on policy makers to protect, improve, and expand Medicare to cover all Americans with a single standard of quality care not based on ability to pay. MNA/UMPNC member Desiree Conyers spoke at the rally about how Medicare helps her patients receive quality care. Katie Oppenheim, UMPNC President, was the moderator for the afternoon educational panel.

MNA/UMPNC members on the MNA Board of

DirectorsThe MNA Board welcomes back John

Armelagos, RN, President and Julia Morrissey, RN, Director at Large. Dennis Magiera, RN, was re-elected to the MNA Board. Brad Packard, RN, starts his first term as a Director at Large.

“Nurses and a broad coalition of community partners are celebrating the anniversary of Medicare because it provides quality patient care to millions of elderly and disabled Americans,” said MNA President and UMPNC nurse John Armelagos. “There are still far too many people who are uninsured or under-insured. HR676 – Medicare for All is the answer. We are committed to expanding and updating Medicare to cover everyone, and we thank Rep. John Conyers for his steadfast commitment to this legislation. We are also grateful to Rep. Brenda Lawrence for her support of this bill.”

HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare For All Act, would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that improves and expands the already existing Medicare program to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories.

MNA/UMPNC member Desiree Conyers, RN, speaks about how Medicare expansion helps her patients receive quality health care. Katie Oppenheim, RN, MNA/UMPNC president, serves as moderator for the afternoon educational panel.