FEBRUARY 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
ECMC Bargaining Starts Strong In our first bargaining session, we agreed on the ground rules. In our second bargaining session, nurses wasted no time in discussing our non-economic proposals, as well as those that management brought to the table. Over the course of the session on February 6, we came to a tentative agreement about several items that were raised, including: • Removing transfer restrictions for promotional opportunities. This would allow nurses to bid into promotional jobs even if they have already transferred within the last 12 months. • Expanding union representation on the labor management committee. • Modifying language to reflect that the health department is no longer covered by this contract.
• Improving communication by expanding union bulletin boards. We hope to make progress on other non-economic issues, including increased staffing, vacation guidelines and layoff and recall protocol, before turning to bargaining about economic issues. Over the course of each session, a dozen nurses dropped in on breaktime to observe bargaining, and many more showed solidarity by wearing red. Let’s see if we can expand that sea of red at the next session! Shawntres Currin, RN, a member of the bargaining committee from 7 Zone 2 Med-Surg said, “To win the strongest contract possible, we need to stay united. We need to inform our colleagues about what’s happening at the bargaining table. Find out who is at the table from your unit and ask them about the contract.”
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
You’ve Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers! NYSNA Representatives will be tabling several times in the next month. This is an excellent opportunity to drop by, find out the latest ECMC news, and get your questions answered. We hope to see you soon!
Save the Dates! Next Bargaining Sessions & Wear Red Days: Monday, February 25, 8AM-4PM Friday, March 8, 8AM-4PM HR Training Room, Ground Floor
Thursday, February 21st 4pm-7pm Ground Floor Hallway by HR 2:30-4pm Terrace View Lobby
Friday, February 22nd 6am-9am Ground Floor Hallway by HR
Tuesday, February 26th 6am-9am Ground Floor Hallway by HR
Monday, March 11th 6am-9am Hospital Lobby
Know Your Bargaining Committee Questions about bargaining? Not sure who on your unit is representing you at the bargaining table? Here are your elected bargaining committee members: Kevin Donovan: 7 Zone 4
Loretta Palermo: ER
Karen Green: Terrace View
Dana Bellido-Clark: CTU
Heather Scott: Behavioral Health Clinics
Shawntres Currin: 7 Zone 2
Cathy Bystrak: Terrace View
Sherry Thomas: PACU
Ray Rebmann: 7 Zone 1
Elizabeth McCrae: Terrace View- Naval Park
Rachel Larkin: 5 South
Steve Bailey: Terrace View- Kensington
Sarah Ott: Patient Safety
Lisa Nowak: Terrace View
Tamara Barr: TICU
Murnita Bennett: Utilization Review
Kena Collins: MICU
Dana Brown: Anesthesiology
FEBRUARY 2019
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at Erie County Medical Center
Q: I also understand that you are very involved in
Safe Patient Handling initiatives at ECMC. Can you explain why nurses should care about SPH?
Ask a Nurse: Shannon Mahar, RN
Q: How long have you been a nurse? I have been a nurse for about four years. I was in the restaurant business for several years, which actually translated well into hospital work. After the birth of my daughter I took one class at a time until I was able to complete nursing school. I was hired after my first interview as a nurse on a Med-Surg Telemetry unit. After a couple years, I took a Charge Nurse position on a palliative care unit, which I truly found rewarding.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a nurse?
I love people, so being a nurse gives me a unique opportunity to get to know and care for people and build trust and relationships within a brief time period. You are the person tasked with being the face of the healthcare experience, you spend the most time with patients, sometimes with people at their absolute worst. You can make such a difference to people. I don’t know too many other careers that make you feel as appreciated for what you do almost every day.
Q: I understand you were nominated by ECMC as
Outstanding Staff Nurse for this year’s Professional Nurse Association of WNY Award. How does it feel to get this recognition? It feels wonderful. It’s a huge honor. I’ve been very lucky to work with such amazing and supportive people during my short career as a nurse. I work hard and I love what I do, and it’s nice to be recognized for that.
I have been on the SPH Committee at ECMC from its conception, and I’m also on the subcommittee that reviews the injury incidences each month for ECMC and Terrace View. Nurses and related healthcare professionals have the highest rate of musculoskeletal injury. This impacts not only the well-being and health of the nurse, but impacts staffing, patient outcomes, and can cause financial hardships for injured staff and the healthcare facility. Ergonomics and SPH are generally not a huge focus of nursing school curriculum. So ECMC is now incorporating it in new nurse orientation, as well as yearly competencies for veteran nurses. A huge investment has been made in SPH equipment these last several years, and we have seen an almost immediate reduction in cost of workers comp claims, as well as lost work days for our staff. This means less of my fellow nurses are injuring themselves while providing care to our patients. We still have work to do, but I am very encouraged by our results thus far.
Q: When did you first get involved with NYSNA? I voiced some of my concerns to my union rep about some potential safety concerns. I was still a brand new nurse, but my concerns were brought to administration at a monthly union meeting and taken very seriously. Shortly after this meeting I actually saw significant changes put into practice at my workplace as a direct result. Without NYSNA, I would never have had the platform to bring my concerns directly to those who make these decisions.
Q: We’re in the midst of an anti-union movement
in this country. What would you say to a co-worker who hasn’t been very involved in NYSNA about why they should care about this? Taking a united approach, you have a stronger voice. The union offers so much if you’re interested in safety, political action, continuing education or professional training and certification courses. I’m going back to school for my BSN right now, and I am so appreciative of getting tuition reimbursement funded through NYSNA. Being part of a union that is solely comprised of other registered nurses in New York State keeps the focus on topics that are most important to fellow nurses, including healthcare equality and safe staffing. You can’t wait around for someone else to fight for what is important to you, you need to get involved!!
UPCOMING EVENTS (For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
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BARGAINING SESSION February 25 8AM-4PM, HR Training Room MEDICAL MISSION TO PHILIPPINES February 26 - March 6, Philippines BARGAINING SESSION March 8 8AM-4PM, HR Training Room
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CRITICAL CARE NURSING CERT. REVIEW
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MEDICAL MISSION TO GUATAMALA March 27 - April 3, Guatamala
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PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH NURSING CERT. REVIEW April 11-12, ECMC
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MED-SURG NURSING CERT. REVIEW April 17-18, ECMC
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MEDICAL MISSION TO BRAZIL April 23 - May 9, Brazil
March 13-14, ECMC
Stay connected: join our Facebook group! www.facebook.com/ groups/eriecountynysna/
Executive Committee
Kevin Donovan, Vice Co-Chair, 7 Zone 4 Karen Green, Terrace View Vice Co-Chair, Supervisor Heather Scott, Secretary, Behavioral Health Clinics Cathy Bystrak, Grievance Chair, MLK & Cazanovia Lisa Nowak, Terrace View Grievance Chair, Canal Ray Rebmann, Membership Chair, 7 Zone 1 Rachel Larkin, Behavioral Health Specialty 1, 5 South Sarah Ott, Behavioral Health Specialty 2, 5 South Tamara Barr, Critical Care Specialty Rep , TICU Chiqkena Collins, Critical Care Specialty Rep, MICU & Western NY Regional Director Loretta Palermo, Emergency Dept. Specialty, ED Dana Bellido-Clark, Med/Surg Specialty, 8 Zone 1 Shawntres Currin, Med/Surg Specialty, 7 Zone 2 Sherry Thomas, OR/Recovery Specialty, PACU Elizabeth McCray, TV Specialty 1, Naval Park Steve Bailey, Terrace View Specialty 2, Kensington Murnita Bennett, At-Large, Care Management
Floor Delegates
Dana Brown, Anesthesiology Dionna Vasquez, Care Management Shawn Mitchell, 5 North Alicia Geiss, PACU Shannon Mahar, 6 Zone 2 Matt Botticelli, 6 North Tara Hill, 9 Zone 3 Jennifer Greene, 9 Zone 3 Cynthia Dwyer, 7 Zone 1 Mackenzie DeCarlo, CPEP Ykeeta Henderson, CPEP Ben Stanford, Delegate over all Unit Managers Colleen Casali, ASU Valeta Dunn, 8 Zone 1 Lee Barnett, OR Liam Morrissey, OR Jennifer Brinkworth, 4 Zone 4
If you’d like to join our leadership team, speak to a Delegate, or contact your Rep.
GET ANSWERS/STAY IN TOUCH
Your NYSNA Representatives: Michael Graham michael.graham@nysna.org 716-467-0449 Jennifer Valentín-Polanco jennifer.valentin@nysna.org 716-445-6319 Anna Rose anna.rose@nysna.org 716-804-4953 Dental benefit questions: www.Aetna.com, 877-238-6200 Prescription benefit questions: www.optumrx.com, 888-691-0130 For all other benefits: www.lmhf.net, 716-601-7980
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