Minnesota Nursing Accent Winter 2020

Page 13

MINNESOTA NURSING Accent

Wrapping up a challenging year

In this issue

In this issue

• Nurses say ‘yes to invest’ – page 5

• Nursing practice during a pandemic - page 7

• Take your advocacy to a new level: run for office - page 17

• Year in Pictures - page 8

• MNA organization-wide election results - page 9

• Where do you dues go?– page 18-22

WINTER 2020 | Volume 92 No. 4

Feature Story

Wrapping up a challenging year

While 2020 brought many challenges, MNA members stepped up and made the best out of a difficult situation. From finding new ways to organize and build power virtually to speaking out against unsafe COVID-19 practices in facilities and fighting for proper PPE, nurses showed great strength, creativity, and resiliency.

Collective Bargaining and Contracts

In a year filled with so many firsts, good and bad, it’s important to celebrate that MNA members achieved first contracts at three different facilities:

• CHI St. Alexius in Bismarck, North Dakota

• Acute-care nurses at Redwood Area Hospital

• McLeod County Public Health

These are three of the 37 contracts that were successfully negotiated in 2020, covering more than 5,700 members!

During bargaining, nurses successfully advocated for language to address workplace violence that was added to contracts throughout the region. In addition to bargaining over their full contracts, nurses went to tables to address COVID-19 effects on staffing, scheduling, and patient placement and flow.

Across MNA’s four-state region, nurses engaged in actions to pressure employers and made sure that their voices were heard by making the fight public. In the Metro area, led by nurses at Allina United Hospital, there was a successful picket in front of the hospital and a spirited march to the Capitol where nurses from several facilities spoke about their experiences with COVID-19.

From Brainerd and Bemidji to Virginia and Duluth, nurses across northern Minnesota held informational pickets and participated in car parades to advance their goals. Nurses in Bismarck held an informational picket as part of their tactics to pressure the employer into coming to an agreement on a historic first contract that addresses long-standing issues. By using new tactics, nurses were able to throw management off their game and keep the public aware of their facilities’ issues. Several of these tactics were used by nurses at Avera Marshall Hospital as they fought back against their CEO who dismissed nurses’ safety, practice, and contract language. Their resolute stand resulted in the removal of the CEO.

Unfortunately, employers tried to use the pandemic as another excuse to continue their focus on profits over nurses and patients. They attempted to use benchmarking to justify lower staffing ratios and accelerated the closure of units and hospitals to save money. And while nurses ended 2019 by shining a spotlight on M Health Fairview’s bad decision to reduce long-term acute care hospital services, they had to continue shining the light throughout 2020 on the shuttering of Bethesda and end of inpatient services at St. Joseph’s, Minnesota’s first hospital.

To keep the pressure on all employers, nurses bravely spoke out in local, regional, national, and international media. By the end of June, PPE stories from nurses reached almost 600 million combined views from readers and viewers in more than 23 states. These stories continued to grow in the second half of the year, with nurses appearing on MSNBC, NPR, CNN, CNN International, The Guardian, the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and more.

Minnesota Nursing Accent

Minnesota Nurses Association

345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102

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WINTER 2020

PUBLISHER Rose Roach

MANAGING EDITORS

Amber Smigiel

Chris Reinke

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Turner, President

Chris Rubesch, 1st Vice President

Doreen McIntyre, 2nd Vice President

Jennifer Michelson, Secretary

Sandie Anderson, Treasurer Directors

Laurie Bahr, RN

Angela Becchetti, RN

Bridget Gavin, RN

Heather Jax, RN

Susan Kreitz, RN

Lynnetta Muehlhauser, RN

Stella Obadiya, RN

Gail Olson, RN

Rui Pina, RN

Angela Schroeder Malone, RN

Cliff Willmeng, RN

Open Positions

1 Non-RN Director

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Wrappingupachallengingyearcont.onpage6

Executive Director’s Column

Corporate Healthcare is on notice in 2021

If one good thing can come out of this year, it’s that the pandemic has shone a bright light on how the U.S. healthcare system wasn’t, and still isn’t, prepared to deal with a global pandemic.

This is due in large part to corporations running our healthcare system like a business, implementing business models that may work in, say the auto industry, but do not work in healthcare – models such as lean management which is a way to do more and more with less and less – less human effort, less equipment, less time, and less space.

We know it’s about minimizing costs to maximize profit, not to take care of patients. Operating under the lean management model has caused a lack of inventory of PPE, a drastic shortage of nurses and other frontline healthcare workers, and a deskilling of healthcare professionals. This is not an economically efficient way to run a healthcare system nor is it a safe and humane way to provide care to those in need. The pandemic has laid bare the fact that we have no public health infrastructure, which puts all our health at risk.

In 2021, MNA will focus on anticorporate healthcare for our legislative agenda. We got a head start by endorsing candidates in 2020 who support healthcare reform and collective bargaining. We also want to focus on it at the bargaining table. We will make sure that proposals for upcoming negotiations include demands that will better protect us from corporate healthcare going forward.

Now that the public has seen the damage this kind of healthcare can do, we need to seize the moment and use our power to make change. There is no better time for us to demonstrate there is a better way to ensure the public’s health – we must up the ante and work harder than ever to take our healthcare out of the hands of corporate elites and put it back into the hands of nurses and others who compassionately provide the care.

No more trying to make a corporatized, market-based system work at the cost of patients’ lives. It’s time for the public and frontline healthcare workers to come together to create oversight of these hospital systems to prevent

closures of clinics and hospitals based on financial greed instead of community health needs and to ultimately enact a single payer, MN Health Plan. The time for Medicare for All is now.

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President’s Column

Hope for the future

To say 2020 was a hard year would be an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged nurses and other frontline healthcare workers more than ever before. I’ve experienced things in the ICU that I never thought I would in all my years of nursing.

We should absolutely celebrate the fact that we won so many hard-fought contracts. But we shouldn’t have had to fight so hard. When I went to support nurses at some of the info pickets over the last year, it was disheartening that one of the main issues was getting proper protection during a pandemic.

Things that should have just been automatic required a fight every step of the way. It’s a given we are going to keep our patients safe. We just do it. I’ve heard the same thing from nurses across the region. It would be nice to have that same treatment from our employers. All we ask is that we are taken care of in return. Instead, now hospitals are trying to blame us for getting infected in our communities instead of at work.

We also have to acknowledge the emotional strain of the past year. Many nurses, myself included, are experiencing PTSD from our experiences. My father died at the beginning of the pandemic, alone because we couldn’t visit him, and I’ve held the hand of patients saying goodbye to their families over Zoom. We need to prioritize our mental health as we head into the New Year as well.

Despite all this, I have hope.

That hope started when I had the opportunity to represent nurses at a roundtable with President-elect Biden. It was the highlight of my career to speak to him and share what we were experiencing with the rest of the country. The government was finally listening—someone who could actually do something.

I want you to have hope, too!

Now we have a vaccine. Soon nurses across the region will be protected along with their families, patients, and communities. We can see the light at the end of this challenging tunnel. We persevered through this incredibly difficult year, and now we are stronger than ever.

In 2021, let’s continue to fight for the treatment we deserve and take what we’ve learned this year to improve the nursing profession. Here’s to a hopeful New Year!

MNA Visions, Values, and Strategic Pathways for 2021 MNA Mission Statement

1. Promote the professional, economic, and personal well-being of nurses.

2. Uphold and advance excellence, integrity, and autonomy in the practice of nursing.

3. Advocate for quality care that is accessible and affordable for all.

MNA Purpose

The purpose of the Minnesota Nurses Association, a union of professional nurses with unrestricted RN membership, shall be to advance the professional, economic, and general well-being of nurses and to promote the health and well-being of the public. These purposes shall be unrestricted by considerations of age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

MNA Vision and Values

MNA is a positive, powerful union of professional direct patient care nurses that advances nursing practice, effective, safe staffing and working conditions, patient interests and works to build a healthy community, empowered profession, and fair and just society along the principles of the Main Street Contract:

• Jobs at living wages

• Guaranteed healthcare

• A secure retirement

• Equal access to quality education

• A safe and clean environment

• Good housing

• Protection from hunger

• Human rights for all

• An end to discrimination

• A just taxation system where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share

In practice, this means:

1. MNA empowers registered nurses to use their collective strength, knowledge, and experience to advance and enhance safe and professional nursing practice, nursing leadership, and the community health and well-being.

2. MNA promotes effective RN staffing and safe working conditions for both patients and registered nurses in direct patient care, in policy and political arenas, and in our communities.

3. MNA builds its power as a union of professional nurses by increasing its membership and exercises that power through effective internal and external organizing, and member participation, activism, education, and mobilization.

4. MNA actively promotes social, economic and racial justice and the health, security, and well-being of all in its organizational programs and collaborations with partner organizations.

5. MNA works in solidarity with the National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO to build a worker movement that promotes the rights of patients, nurses, and workers across the United States.

Strategic Pathways

MNA will achieve its vision through six key strategic pathways.

• Strengthen the integrity of nursing practice, nursing practice environments, and safe patient staffing standards and principles.

• Oppose any attacks on nursing practice and workers’ rights, including any attempts of deskilling the professional nurse’s scope of practice and right-to-work legislation.

• Collectively bargain from strength across the upper Midwest

• Organize externally and internally to increase MNA membership and continue to increase solidarity and participation of membership locally, regionally, and nationally.

• Elect politicians who will implement nurse/worker-friendly public policy, including safe staffing and a healthcare system that includes everyone and excludes no one.

• Work in solidarity with the NNU and AFL-CIO and other community allies to advance nursing, health care and worker justice issues.

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MNA President speaks at frontline workers roundtable with Presdent-elect Joe Biden

After the participants spoke about their experiences and answered his questions, Biden took a moment to thank all frontline workers and promised to fight as hard for them as they do for their communities.

On November 18, MNA President Mary C. Turner represented the nation’s nurses during a roundtable with President-elect Joe Biden and other frontline workers from SEIU, the International Federation of Firefighters, and the American Federation of Teachers.

Biden began the discussion by emphasizing the importance of hearing from frontline workers first-hand and how vital their contributions have been during the unprecedented pandemic.

“This crisis has shown the nation that we literally could not survive without you,” he said. “You’ve always been essential, even if most of America hasn’t learned that term until recently.”

Mary spoke about the realities nurses face during this pandemic, including dealing with limited supplies and staffing while publicly fighting for the resources they need.

“As President of the Minnesota Nurses Association, I have been on multiple picket lines with healthcare workers who are protesting to get the PPE that they need and other protections,” she told Biden during her remarks. “There is something seriously wrong when nurses have to take to the streets to beg for protection in the middle of a pandemic.”

Mary also gave an impassioned plea for what all frontline workers need from the Federal Government and the next administration.

“We know that we are facing immense death and suffering in the coming weeks, and we will be there,” she said. “But we need to act now; we need to act quickly, to protect our healthcare workers so that we can save as many lives as possible.”

Visibly moved by her words, Biden shared about his own experience in the ICU and the strain he saw it cause nurses, even before they had to deal with a pandemic. He was also shocked to learn that, at the time of the roundtable, Mary had not received a COVID-19 test from her hospital since the pandemic began.

“As president, I’m going to fight as hard as I can, as hard as you’re fighting for your communities,” Biden said at the close of the roundtable. “And we’re going to make sure that you get the personal protective equipment you need. We’re going to make sure you have paid sick leave. We’re going to make sure that you can care for your families . . . We’re going to make sure we don’t just praise you, but we actually pay you. And we’re going to protect your right to collective bargaining and form a union. And we’re going to lead a robust and aggressive effort to control the virus.”

News organizations across the country were also moved by Mary’s comments during the roundtable and reached out to have her speak about her experience with Biden and at the frontlines of the pandemic.

“For the first time, speaking with President-elect Biden, I had hope,” said Mary during her appearance on CNN’s Out Front with Erin Burnett. “And with that came such an emotional release.”

Mary is currently a nurse at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, where she proudly works on the night shift COVID-19 ICU unit.

Watch the full roundtable here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=J6c1wkmunAc

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At the Capitol

The COVID-19 pandemic also made it more challenging for nurses to build more political power in 2020. Nurses were no longer able to visit the Capitol to meet with legislators or participate in Day on the Hill events. Despite this, nurses were able to find opportunities to advocate in other ways.

MNA held 27 “in-district” video conferences where 82 MNA nurses connected with their legislators. These nurses educated legislators on increasing PPE supply, getting presumptive eligibility for workers compensation claims, passing prescription drug reform measures, and the conditions inside their hospitals. Nurses also sent hundreds of emails to their legislators asking for support.

MNA’s legislative priorities also changed dramatically as the pandemic consumed the legislature and the minds of nurses during 2020. However, MNA was successful once again in holding the nurse licensure compact back from passage. In large part, due to the multi-organizational and multi-year campaign, prescription drug reform also made progress with the passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act. The new law ensures that insulin-dependent Minnesotans have access to emergency insulin and that those who face difficulty with cost can enroll in a program that would help with affordability issues. However, the fight is not over as the law is being challenged by a group representing pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Nurses had to take on a new challenge because of COVID-19, engaging heavily in a campaign with other labor partners to ensure Workers’ Compensation Presumptive Eligibility for essential workers. Before the bill passage, frontline workers needed to provide evidence that they contracted COVID-19 at work. With the passage of this bill, those workers are presumed to have contracted COVID-19 through their employment, meaning the burden of proof is shifted from the employee to the employer. Through this legislation, hospitals will need to provide proof that a nurse did not contract COVID-19 through the course of their employment. This was initially a huge win for nurses and other healthcare workers who face increased risk. However, hospitals continue to circumvent the law, which has resulted in frustration for nurses across the state. MNA continues to alert the Department of Labor and Industry when notified about significant violations and encourages all nurses, if denied initially for worker’s compensation, to file an appeal with the Department of Labor and Industry themselves.

Nurses also worked on building political power by engaging in the 2020 electoral program. Despite the inability to do

screening, endorsement, caucusing, or persuasion in person, MNA nurses could still run a successful electoral action program that built nurse power with new candidates and current elected officials. Out of the 66 House seats that MNA endorsed, 56 MNA-supported candidates won their races. In the Senate, MNA made 42 endorsements, with 30 of those candidates winning. Overall, 15 of the MNA endorsed candidates who won their races are brand new to elected office and are crediting nurses with helping win their races.

Nursing Practice and Education

One of the biggest challenges for nurses during the pandemic was navigating one of the most difficult practice experiences of their careers. MNA kept nurses up to date on their legal rights in a pandemic, health and safety issues, quarantine, crisis staffing, ethical challenges of providing care with limited resources, telehealth, and many more.

All of MNA’s educational programs were developed into online learning, focusing on core trainings most in demand by members: Steward Training, Staffing, and Nurse Practice Act education, including Refusing Unsafe Assignment training. Chair Training, several one-time classes, and presentations by guest-instructors were also available.

The MNA Convention was affected by COVID-19 as well. It is usually the largest education event of the year, so this year with the House of Delegates taking place online, member leaders chose to present online education throughout October. There were 26 classes offered, more than double what is usually available in-person at Convention. These classes reached members all over the region and featured new topics. Guest presenters included Minnesota State University Mankato nursing faculty and MNA member Tammy Neiman, Minnesota Board of Nursing Nursing Peer Support Network board member and MNA member Sarah Simons, and nationally respected labor scholars Bill Fletcher Jr and Peter Rachleff. Participants from 40 different bargaining units attended these classes, representing the Metro, greater Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota bargaining units. Overall, the 2020 education program presented 165 individual classes, reaching 600 members from nearly every MNA bargaining unit.

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Nursing Practice

Nursing Practice During the Pandemic

Looking back as we begin the New Year, there is nursing practice before the pandemic and nursing practice since the pandemic; not unlike a personal traumatic event that changes that person’s life trajectory. I have been a registered nurse for more than twenty years and have practiced in various settings in four different states including, a 70+ bed open-heart step-down unit of a large healthcare system, a critical access hospital, a community hospital, and a Level II trauma center. My role as your Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, in part and in collaboration with MNA staff, is to assist with complex nursing practice situations. Since the pandemic, nursing practice complexity has been unlike any I have experienced in my nursing career and could never have foreseen.

Most troubling is the response of crisis leadership in some Minnesota hospitals which put nurses and patient care at risk such as bullying, refusing to supply adequate personal protective equipment, deployment of nurses to unfamiliar patient care areas, inadequate surge staffing, and more. In these challenging situations, nurse members seek guidance to improve them, protect their patients, and themselves.

In addition to assisting with individual practice situations, throughout the pandemic, I have taught a basic Minnesota Nurse Practice Act (NPA) class which reviews rules that pertain to nursing practice, such as scope of practice, grounds for disciplinary action, reporting obligations, among others. Class participants engage in discussions about practice scenarios to gain a basic understanding of the application of the NPA in the context of a certain set of facts, standards of care, culture, and other aspects of practice. Through these discussions, nurse members learn how rules that appear admirably straightforward may actually be more complicated. More so since the pandemic.

Additionally, discussions emphasize the importance of advocating for individual patients which is a professional, legal, and ethical obligation. Speaking up is critically important. So too, is working together as a team, supporting nurses who refuse unsafe assignments, calling up the Chain-of-Command,

and appropriately documenting actions taken and responses received (in a follow-up email to management, for example). Also, nurse members are encouraged to consider professional liability insurance. These are especially trying times.

Nurses often ask; if they have their own professional liability insurance, are they more likely to become a target in a lawsuit? Or comment that their employer’s insurance will provide a legal defense. However, if a nurse caused harm because of negligence and there is a lawsuit, they may expect to be named whether they have insurance or not. Also, the legal principle that an employer’s insurance policy will provide a legal defense is vicarious liability, or respondeat superior, meaning the employer is vicariously liable for the negligence of its employees. The assumption overlooks important considerations, such as the type of legal defense the employer will provide. For example, what if a nurse needs to defend themselves by providing evidence that blames the employer?

The primary reason to invest in professional liability insurance is to provide a legal defense for a complaint against your nursing license to the Board of Nursing that may result in action against your nursing license or disciplinary action. Because there are many reasons why the Board may commence an investigation such as a compliant, social media post, etc., it is more likely a defense would be needed in one of these types of actions rather than a malpractice lawsuit. Even so, malpractice is another good reason to invest in professional liability insurance.

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Year in Pictures

January 8

ACLS Recertification Class

January 20

Minnesota Wild Salute 2 Scrubs

January 28

No Cuts on Quality Care Townhall

February 6

Legislative Preview meeting with legislators

February 20

House Health and Human Services Finance Division hearing on the healthcare marketplace

February 24

No Cuts on Quality Care Rally

March 24

MNA PPE Donation Drive

May 20

Informational Picket at United Hospital and march to the Capitol

June 12

MNA Community Donation Drive

June 26

Informational Picket at CHI St. Alexius Health Bismarck

August 3

Informational Picket at Essentia Health in Virginia

August 5

Day of Action to Save Lives

October 19

Informational Picket at Essentia Health in Brainerd

October 19

Rally and delivering demands to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners

November 3

Press conference addressing the shutdown of M Health Fairview St. Paul area hospitals

8

Summary of MNA’s House of Delegates Action

October 12 & November 30, 2020

Bylaws Amendment A1 FAILED

Art 1 Sect 1: Name and Affiliations

Proposing name change to Midwest Nurses Association.

Bylaws Amendment A2 ADOPTED

Art IV Sect 3C: Elections

Retired Collective Bargaining Delegates can now vote for the Delegate position they can run in.

Bylaws Amendment A3 ADOPTED

Art IV Sect 4 A&B: Terms of Office

The Election on Bargaining Unit Leaders, Stewards, and Negotiating Team Members policy will now determine the term length and election process for Collective Bargaining Delegates.

Bylaws Amendment A4 ADOPTED

Art IV Sect 4C: Terms of Office

Serving more than one-half of a term on the MNA Board of Directors will be considered a full term, anything less will not count toward term limits.

Bylaws Amendment A5 ADOPTED

Art VI Sect 5A: Board Composition

If the Non-RN Director position is not filled by election or appointment after three months of a new term, the position will be offered to the RN Director candidate receiving the next highest number of votes.

Bylaws Amendment A6 DIVIDED

Art VII Sect 6A: Commission on Governmental Affairs

Congressional Districts refer to those in Minnesota. ADOPTED

Remove requirement of members to live in the districts they represent. FAILED

Resolution R1

Political Independence and Power for the MNA FAILED

Resolution R2

Public Financing of Campaigns ADOPTED

Resolution R3

MNA’s Review and Evaluation of Representation ADOPTED

Resolution R4

MNA Stands Against Discrimination and Racism ADOPTED

Resolution R5

Mandatory Anti-Racist Training for Stewards ADOPTED

Resolution R6

Equality Representation in Union Committees & Equal Advancement ADOPTED

Resolution R7

NOC Representation at Convention House of Delegates ADOPTED

Resolution R8

MNA to Influence Police Policy in Regards to Racism FAILED

Main Motion M1

2020 Legislative Platform ADOPTED

Main Motion M2

HOD Policy-Alternate Delegates to MNA’s House of Delegates ADOPTED

Main Motion M3

HOD Policy-Filling Open

Delegate Positions in House of Delegates ADOPTED

Main Motion M4

HOD Policy-Challenging an MNA Election ADOPTED

Main Motion M5

HOD Policy-Removal of Elected MNA Officials & Commissioners ADOPTED

Emergency Main Motion M6: Statement of Solidarity from White Nurses FAILED TO CONSIDER

*Note: The 2020 HOD voted to not consider this Emergency Main Motion. However, since the MNA Board of Directors approved this Statement in August 2020, this is currently the position of MNA.

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Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation 2020 Scholarship Recipients

Cynthia Hunt-Lines

Mable Fale, Spring Arbor University

Nancy Thao, The College of St. Scholastica

Tara Young, University of North Dakota

Janky Foundation

Kelly Perro, University of North Dakota

Phillips Laird

Michelle Hammer, Maryville Uninversity

Rose Dhein

Morganna Moon, St Catherine University

Sarah Colvin Social Justice

Robin Henderson, St. Catherine University

Mary Eliza Mahoney

Felix Boit, Rasmussen College

MNAF Graduate

Sarah Carlson-Bradley, University of North Dakota

Samantha Delander, The College of St. Scholastica

Elana Goldsmith, University of Minnesota

Tara Gottwalt, Maryville University

Nyaha Jome Ceesay, Walden University

Heather Julian, Grand Canyon University

Doneca Merfeld Ruble, Minnesota State University-Mankato

Kelsey Swenson, Augsburg University

Delphine Timti, Walden University

Katrina Zwack, The College of St. Scholastica

MNAF Baccalaureate

Alicia Thomsen, The College of St. Scholastica

MNA Member

Akuvi Akoumany, Metro State University

Kate Amoako, University of Minnesota

Arbra Brown, Augsburg University

Brina Buetow, Southwest Minnesota State University

Lisa Burkhalter, Walden University

Annamaria Cioffi, University of MInnesota

Rory Connolly, University of North Dakota

Thuthao Dinh, Walden University

Phurbu Dolma, Grand Canyon University

Vi Duong, Bradley University

Natasha Fester, Unversity of North Dakota

Cassandra Franson, Minnesota State University Mankato

Tracy Gemmell, The College of St. Scholastica

Emily Grandson, Minnesota State University Mankato

Mary Monica Grogan, University of Minnesota

Danyel Haime, American Sentinel

Kristina Hernandez, University of Minnesota

Sawdatu Iddrisu, Purdue Global University

Jennifer Jakobe, Winona State University

Justin Juan, Capella University

Melissa Kadrmas, Western Governors University

Courtney Kenefick, University of Minnesota

Arielle Kirk, Concordia University

Sarah Locken, The College of St. Scholastica

Jennifer Lowe, Minnesota State University Mankato

Christine Maddy, Bemidji State University

Alisen Madison, Mankato State University

Risper Makori, Spring Arbor University

Noah Montante, Walden University

Christine Myers, University of Minnesota

Jessica Runyon, St. Catherine University

June Shields, The College of St. Scholastica

Shauna Weishaar, Maryville University

David Wrobleski, University of Minnesota

Merrilyn Yang, University of North Dakota

Garrett Zewers, University of North Dakota

Candise Zwilling, Rasmussen College

MNA Associate Member

Elizabeth Kazeem, Rasmussen College

MNA Legacy Scholarship for children or dependents of MNA Members

Julia Berggren, South Dakota State University enrolled in undergraduate program in Nursing

Celeste Brom, University of Minnesota Duluth enrolled in undergraduate program in Accounting

Madeline Egbert, Iowa State University enrolled in undergraduate program in Apparel Merchandising

Alex Gross, Inver Hills Community College enrolled in undergraduate program in Nursing

Paige Johnson, Grand Canyon University enrolled in undergraduate program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Larissa Kycia, College of Saint Benedict enrolled in undergraduate program in Science

Emma Melin, University of Minnesota Twin Cities enrolled in undergraduate program

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Brianna Molnar, Ball State University

enrolled in undergraduate program in Science

Ashley Nelson, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

enrolled in undergraduate program in Integrated Strategic Communications – Advertising

Gloria Nwanekpe, St. Cloud State University

enrolled in undergraduate program in Graphic Design and Computer Science

Michael Nwanekpe, Century College

enrolled in undergraduate program in Business Management and Marketing

Nnamdi Okorie, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities enrolled in undergraduate program in Acting

Joseph Pesik, University of Minnesota Duluth

enrolled in undergraduate program in Civil Engineering

Anna Rabe, Bethel University

enrolled in undergraduate program

Chizorom Richards-Okorie, University of Wisconsin River Falls enrolled in undergraduate program

Sasha Ryshkus Knutson, Roosevelt University enrolled in undergraduate program in Special Education

Hannah Scherr, Minnesota State Community and Technical College

enrolled in undergraduate program in Nursing

Elisabeth Strecker, Bethel University enrolled in undergraduate program in Nursing

Eric Tehrani, Normandale Community College

enrolled in undergraduate program in Microbiology

Patrick Tehrani, Normandale Community College enrolled in undergraduate program in Pre Med

Nathaniel Tilahun, Anoka Ramsey Community College enrolled in undergraduate program in Computer Science

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Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation (All Periodicals Publications Except Requester Publications) 1.Publication Title 2.Publication Number 3.Filing Date 4.Issue Frequency 5. Number of Issues Published Annually 6.Annual Subscription Price 7.Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer) (Street, city, county, state, and ZIP+4 ® Contact Person Telephone (Include area code) 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer) 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor (Do not leave blank) Publisher (Name and complete mailing address) Editor (Name and complete mailing address) Managing Editor (Name and complete mailing address) 10. Owner (Do not leave blank. If the publication is owned by a corporation, give the name and address of the corporation immediately followed by the names and addresses of all stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of the total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, give the names and addresses of the individual owners. If owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm, give its name and address as well as those of each individual owner. If the publication is published by a nonprofit organization, give its name and address.) Full Name Complete Mailing Address 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities. If none, check box None Full Name Complete Mailing Address 12. Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates) (Check one) The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months Has Changed During Preceding 12 Months (Publisher must submit explanation of change with this statement) PS Form 3526 July 2014 [Page 1 of 4 (see instructions page 4)] PSN: 7530-01-000-9931 PRIVACY NOTICE: See our privacy policy on www.usps.com Minnesota Nursing Accent 3520-00 10/01/2020 Quarterly 4 $25 Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 Amber Smigiel (651) 414-2849 Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 Rose Roach, Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 Amber Smigiel, Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 Chris Reinke, Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 Minnesota Nursing Association 345 Randolph Ave., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55102-3610 � � 13.Publication Title 14.Issue Date for Circulation Data Below 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date a.Total Number of Copies (Net press run) b.Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid (1) distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 (Include paid (2) distribution above nominal rate, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, (3) Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (4) (e.g., First-Class Mail® c.Total Paid Distribution [Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)] d.Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541 Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS (3) (e.g., First-Class Mail) (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or other means) e.Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) f.Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e) g. Copies not Distributed (See Instructions to Publishers #4 (page #3)) h.Total (Sum of 15f and g) i.Percent Paid (15c divided by 15f times 100) *If you are claiming electronic copies, go to line 16 on page 3. If you are not claiming electronic copies, skip to line 17 on page 3. PS Form 3526, July 2014 (Page 2 of 4) 22600 22050 Minnesota Nursing Accent 09/01/2020 22250 2177 22250 2177 300 250 300 250 22550 22024 50 26 22600 22050 98.66 98.86
Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

CARn Corner

Our first line of defense

First and foremost, when I see employees wearing masks and using sanitizer correctly, I thank them loudly (not shouting just so those close can hear). If I see the manager, I compliment them on keeping the facility as safe as possible.

When I encounter staff who are not wearing a mask or wearing it below their nose, I ask the employee quietly to please put on their mask on correctly to protect themselves and me. I thank them if they do. If they say no or do not respond, I ask them to please call their manager. If they don’t, I will call the store using my cell phone and ask for a manager to come down immediately. I do not go back to that store.

Nurses always respond during disasters, war, and now a pandemic. Unfortunately, while this pandemic has become a political football, as nurses, we know this virus is no game. Our most vulnerable and even those with no risk factors are losing their lives every day. Our hospitals are at capacity, and nurse staffing makes it impossible to provide care in many areas of our state. Many patients are told they have to get care hundreds of miles from their homes.

Now that the election is over and the virus is still raging, we must educate and enforce proven strategies we use in our workplaces and in our communities to stop the spread of this virus. Our first line of defense and the easiest, most effective way to beat this pandemic is to avoid the spread of this disease. We should be using every opportunity we encounter to educate and demand our patients and our community use masks correctly, wash their hands, and practice safe social distancing.

Like many of you, I have pondered how to handle situations in public places. It seems hard to find the right words while being respectful and nonconfrontational.

The hardest is when friends and family do not understand why you will not attend a party or other large group activities such as dinners, weddings, and funerals. I have a responsibility to them to do all I can to limit the spread of this disease. I use the opportunity to explain the circle of infection in layman’s terms and how we can stop it.

Minnesota businesses also have a responsibility to ensure all employees and service workers comply with the guidelines for masks, hand washing, and safe social distancing. We all know some do not. I have tried several strategies to ‘help’ them comply. You will no doubt have other ideas, and I hope you can share them in the comments below.

If you have a major concern about a violation, you can contact local law enforcement, call the state hotline at 651793-3746, or email sahviolations@state.mn.us

We must remember nurses are the most trusted profession. We must use that trust to maintain public health measures to control this disease. That’s what nurses do.

You’re welcome to share your ideas in the comments of the online version of this article to help make a difference and create a safe environment for all: https://mnnurses.org/ourfirst-line-of-defense/

VACANCY: Non-RN Director position on MNA Board of Directors

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved! The Non-RN Director position on the MNA Board of Directors (effective January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023) was not filled during the recent organization-wide elections; therefore, MNA is reaching out to Non-RN members covered by a collective bargaining agreement to fill this vacancy.

Refer to the MNA Bylaws (Article VI - Board of Directors) for expectations and functions of this position on the Member Center: https://mymna.mnnurses.org/Clients/MNA/content/140/mnabylawspoliciesresolutions.aspx.

After April 1, 2021, the Board of Directors will fill the vacancy per the MNA Bylaws, Article VI Section 5.

Online Appointment Consideration applications are due March 31, 2021.

To apply, visit: https://mna.formstack.com/forms/mna_ appointment_consideration_copy

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Join the MNA Ethics Committee Book Club

Welcome to our Readers, whether First to Last Pagers or Skimmers or Wannabes! The MNA Ethics Committee extends a warm invitation to join in engaging and enriching conversation with other MNA nurses. This Book Club meets five times a year and offers not only connection with other nurses but also 2.0 nursing contact hours! We are using Zoom as our platform for meeting with all the bonus material that includes such as pets, babies, and mug wisdom. It’s an informal venue, yet often yields great insights for the time spent in discussion with one another. Use the MNA event calendar at www.mnnurses. org/events to reserve your spot. You will receive a reminder email with the Zoom link prior to the book clubs. Hope to see you often in 2021!

All book clubs take place on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Here are the selections for 2021:

January 21

Separated by William D Lopez

Separated is an account of how immigration laws and deportation negatively impact communities, families, and individuals. The author analyzes the impact of one raid on a Michigan community in 2013 and how those left behind had incredible challenges to face. The ethics and impact of a “lawful” deportation system that is racist and violent are discussed in depth.

March 18

Haldol and Hyacinths

by William D Lopez

Haldol and Hyacinths is the compelling story of a woman who refused to become a victim. Moezzi shares her personal story of living with a diagnosis of Bipolar where people in her life, including her medical professionals, tried to push her into in a world of invisibility. It is a funny and provocative story of her lived experience, one that has relevance for every one of us.

May 20

White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

White Fragility provides an opportunity to explore common reactions to situations where our assumptions are challenged. While this book specifically considers the response of white people to the concept of their (our) own racist tendencies, the principles can also be applied to other prejudicial assumptions we encounter as nurses in practice. Reflecting upon our own implicit biases is part of our path forward into promoting a more equitable society for all.

September 16

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

The Radium Girls is the story of very young, often immigrant women in the 1920s who were lured to jobs to paint radium on dials so they would glow in the dark for military planes. Radium was known to cause health issues, but that information was withheld. This story talks about the movement toward workers’ rights and occupational health laws needed then, and still needed now.

November 18

The Cutter Incident by Paul Offit

The Cutter Incident explores the polio vaccine and how it eventually suppressed the production of vaccines for other fatal diseases. It takes place in 1955 at Cutter Industrial facility when 200,000 people were inadvertently injected with live virulent polio virus and the ensuing tragedy of 70,000 becoming ill and others dying or becoming paralyzed. Vaccination continues to be a controversial topic and understanding the history and mixed motives for vaccination is important for nurses in a variety of settings.

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November 23, 2020

MNA State Election Results

All Terms: January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023

MNA Board of Directors

President Mary Turner

1st Vice President

Christopher Rubesch

2nd Vice President Doreen McIntyre

Secretary Jennifer Michelson

Treasurer

Directors

Sandie Anderson

Laurie Bahr

Angela Becchetti

Bridget Gavin

Heather Jax

Sue Kreitz

Lynnetta Muehlhauser

Stella Obadiya

Gail Olson

Rui Pina

Angela Schroeder-Malone

Cliff Willmeng

Non-RN Director (Open)

Commission on Nursing Practice and Education

Niki Gjere

Gladys Igbo

Commission on Governmental Affairs

Mary Kirsling

Candy Matzke

Rebekah Nelson

Marcia Swanson

Leesa Wilson

Committee on Elections

Tracey Dittrich

Cassie Hamilton

Leadership Committee of the Council of Active Retired Nurses

Mary Kirsling

Susan Kreitz

Barbara Martin

Kathleen Moore

Juli Uzlik

Pat Webster

Charlotte (Kava) Zabawa

AFL-CIO Delegates

Sharon Carlson

Keiana Carrington-Hughes

Tammy Fritze

Dick Hebrink

Robin Henderson

Margaret (Peggy) Henrickson

Mischelle Knipe

Sherri Lidholm

Candy Matzke

Doreen McIntyre

Jennifer Michelson

Lynnetta Muehlhauser

Rebekah Nelson

Judy Russell-Martin

Marcia Swanson

Melanie Timpano

Cliff Willmeng

Non-Collective Bargaining Delegate

Niki Gjere

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MNA Annual Notices Regarding Dues (This notice is not applicable to public sector employees or employees of employers located in right-to-work states, except employees of employers in those states who are covered by the Railway Labor Act or are situated on U.S. Government property.)

EMPLOYEES SUBJECT TO UNION SECURITY CLAUSES

As an employee working under a Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) agreement containing a union security clause, you are required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to MNA. This is the only obligation under the union security clause. You do not have to actually become a member of MNA. Individuals who are members pay dues while individuals who are non-members pay an agency fee. This fee, which is authorized by law, is your fair share of paying for the benefits of union representation that you and your co-workers receive. Non-members may file objections to paying for expenditures that are not germane to MNA’s duties as collective bargaining representative and obtain a reduction in fees for those activities. This notice contains information relevant to deciding whether to object, and the internal MNA procedures for filing objections.

Non-member fee payers give up many benefits that only MNA members receive. As a member, you will have all the benefits and privileges of membership, including the right to fully participate in the internal activities of the union, the right to attend and participate in membership meetings, the right to participate in contract ratification and strike votes, the right to vote to set or raise dues and fees, the right to nominate and elect MNA officers, and the right to run for MNA office and for convention delegate.

If you nonetheless elect to become an agency fee payer, you will be required to pay, as a condition of employment, an “agency fee” that represents a percentage of the monthly dues for reasonable and necessary costs incurred in acting as your bargaining representative. The agency fee is calculated based on those “chargeable” expenditures germane to collective bargaining activities MNA incurred during the most recently completed fiscal year. Among those expenditures germane to collective bargaining for which agency fee payers may be charged are those made for the negotiation, administration, and enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement; all expenses related to representing employees in the bargaining unit, including the investigation and processing of grievances; MNA administration; and other germane expenses. Those expenditures that are non-chargeable are identified as expenditures for activities not germane to MNA’s duty as your bargaining representative, such as expenditures for certain lobbying activities and to support political candidates. Currently, 13.34% of MNA’s expenditures are deemed to be non-chargeable expenditures. The financial information provided herewith summarizes the chargeable and non-chargeable expenses.

If you are a member and wish to resign from MNA, or if you do not want to become a member, and you object to paying dues equal to the amount customarily paid by MNA members and wish to pay agency fees instead, you must notify MNA of your choice by

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sending a letter in the mail so stating to the Membership Department, Minnesota Nurses Association, 345 Randolph Avenue, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN, 55102. The letter must include your full name, mailing address, your employer’s name, your job classification, and your date of hire. In all cases, if you are thereafter employed as a new employee by another employer with a union security agreement with MNA, you must follow the above process with respect to obtaining agency fee status with your new employer.

If you submit a valid objection you will receive another copy of MNA’s calculation of representational expenditures, verified by an independent certified public accountant, and shall have their dues reduced to reflect the percentage of non-representational expenditures from the previous year. The current percentage of the reduction would be by 13.34%. This reduction in dues will commence on the first day of the month following the receipt of the objection. If you have signed a payroll deduction authorization card, MNA will instruct your employer to deduct that agency fee from your paycheck. If you have not signed a payroll deduction authorization card, you must pay the amount of the agency fee directly to MNA in a timely manner. This agency fee status will be treated as continuing in nature. Should you wish to discontinue this status, you may do so at any time by contacting MNA.

Non-member objectors have the right to challenge MNA’s calculations of representational expenditures before an impartial arbitrator. Such challenges must be made in writing, explain the basis for the challenge, and be received by MNA within 30 days of the employee receiving the calculation information. Upon receipt of a timely valid challenge, MNA will put the challenged amount of dues in an interest-bearing escrow account. If more than one non-member objector challenges the calculations, the challenges will be consolidated for hearing. The decision of the impartial arbitrator will be final and binding.

MNA fully expects that few, if any, employees it represents will avail themselves of the option of agency fee status since it firmly believes that all employees represented by MNA recognize the importance of all the expenses incurred by MNA on their behalf in the continuing struggle to improve the working conditions and job security of employees represented by MNA. While it is your legal right to be a non-member and to object to paying full dues, we believe that doing so is not in your best interest or in the interest of your co-workers.

Before choosing agency fee payer status over full member benefits of MNA membership, read this notice carefully and be aware of the benefits that you will be giving up.

Chargeable/Non-Chargeable Expense Analysis

Fees charged to non-member agency fee payers support expenditures for representational costs such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, grievance processing, union administration, and other matters made by the Minnesota Nurses

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Association and National Nurses United (NNU). The chargeable portion of the National Nurses United (NNU) assessment is based on an analysis of the NNU audited expenses. Non-chargeable items include, among other things, certain lobbying costs and political activities, as well as costs related to maintaining a political action fund. Newsletter costs are non-chargeable to the extent that the content is related to a nonchargeable activity.

The financial information below summarizes the chargeable and non-chargeable expenses with corresponding percentages for each level.

Agency Fee Analysis Financial Summary

Source: 2019 Audited Financial Statements

MNA Member Dues for 2021

MNA member dues will increase from $70 per month to $72.70 per month for 2021

Annual dues rates are calculated based on the change in the average starting pay of bargaining unit contracts. If the average starting pay increases, your MNA dues will increase on January 1 of each year. Dues rates for 2021 are based on the average

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Total Non-Chargeable Chargeable EXPENSES Salaries/Benefits 9,964,563 762,009 9,202,554 Affiliation Fees 2,134,196 573,011 1,561,185 Negotiating Payments/Professional Fees 1,641,344 56,836 1,584,508 Travel/Meetings 1,037,199 72,478 964,721 Overhead/Administrative 849,211 367,855 481,356 Office Lease/Insurance/Depreciation 642,978 - 642,978 Political Committee 180,000 180,000Printing/Mailings/Promotion 436,655 219,249 217,406 Total expenses 16,886,146 2,231,438 14,654,708 FAIR SHARE PERCENTAGE 87% Year Ended December 31, 2019 Chargeable and Non-Chargeable Expenses Minnesota Nurses Association Schedule of Expenses and Allocation of Modified Cash Basis

change in starting pay rates on December 31, 2019 MNA dues for non-RNs will increase from $21.83-$43 67 per month to $25.20-$50.40 per month

Bargaining unit members who work less than 832 hours per year may be eligible for reduced dues at 50 percent of the regular dues rate. Dues for registered nurse members who do not belong to an MNA bargaining unit are also 50 percent of the regular dues rates.

An Associate Membership option is available for registered nurses who are not represented by MNA for collective bargaining, who wish to have access to MNA for volunteer activities, but with no additional membership rights. Student nurses enrolled in an RN Nursing program are also eligible for Associate Membership.

The annual and monthly dues rates for the various categories of dues payers are listed below. If you have any questions related to your MNA dues, please contact the MNA office and ask for a Membership Account Specialist.

Note: Bargaining Unit members that work less than 832 hours per year may be eligible for reduced dues at 50% of the regular dues rate.

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MNA Dues/Service Fees Effective January 1, 2021 Category Annual Monthly RN bargaining unit dues $872.40 $72.70 Non RN-Professional dues $604.80 $50.40 Non RN-LPN/Technical dues $453.60 $37.80 Non RN-Other dues $302.40 $25.20 RN bargaining unit-Service fee objector $756.00 $63.00 Non RN-Professional-Service fee objector $523.76 $43.65 Non RN-LPN/Technical-Service fee objector $392.82 $32.73 Non RN-Other-Service fee objector $261.88 $21.82 RN non bargaining unit dues $436.20 $36.35 RN Associate Membership $100.00

Salaries/Benefits - 60%

MNA Dues Allocation - 2%

Travel/Meetings - 5%

Office Lease/Insurance/Depreciation - 4%

Affiliation Fees (NNU/AFL-CIO) - 12%

Negotiating Payments/Professional Fees - 8%

Office Operations/Overhead - 9%

Source: 2021 Projected

Annual Dues 1 $872.40 ($72.70/mo.)

Less: NNU Per Capita Dues (Red Slice) 2 <87.30>

Less: AFL-CIO State & Regional Federations (Average, Red Slice) <14.00>

Member Dues Allocation (Strike, MNAF, MNA PC; Light Blue Slice) <20.00>

Amount Available for MNA Operations $751.10 ($62.60/mo.)

1 Annual dues will be 50 percent less for collective bargaining members working less than 832 hours per year and non-collective bargaining members.

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Revenue
Salaries/Benefits - 60% 60% Affiliation Fees (NNU/AFL-CIO)
12% 12% MNA Dues Allocation - 2% 2% Negotiating Payments/Professional Fees - 8% 8% Travel/Meetings - 5% 5% Office Operations/Overhead - 9% 9% Office Lease/Insurance/Depreciation - 4% 4%
Dues
Allocation
-
60% 12% 2% 8% 5% 9% 4%
345 Randolph Ave., Ste. 200 St. Paul, MN 55102 2021 MNA Convention October 3-5, 2021 DoubleTree by Hilton, Bloomington - Mpls South SAVE the DATE! minnesota nursing accent

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