JUNE 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
SANE Nurses Go Above and Beyond
gowns. We realized that when we gave them brand new clothing, it helped restore them and gave them a little of their humanity back.”
SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurses are specially trained to treat victims of sexual assault. Since the founding of the program at ECMC nearly a decade ago, SANE nurses have advocated for better equipment to aid in special examinations and better evidence collection for the prosecution of cases. Not only have they gotten more resources for patients, they have improved the outcomes for sexual assault survivors.
There are currently nine SANE nurses at ECMC, and the program is always looking for more nurses and more resources. Loretta Palmero, RN, said, “It may not be for everyone, but being a SANE nurse is personally the most fulfilling part of being a nurse for me. Sexual assault is very underreported. We are trying to do more education in the hospital around what we do. If anyone has a question about sexual assault, we always have a SANE nurse on call who can answer questions.”
Program Director, Karen Beckman-Pilcher explains, “The SANE program is about more than getting a prosecution. It’s about health. We have medication to keep people physically healthy. We have crisis intervention to take care of psychological health, which takes longer to heal. We are nurses first. We advocate for the whole patients’ well-being.” In May, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SANE nurses coordinated a month-long “comfort kit” collection initiative, where nurses and other volunteers assembled over 200 comfort kits and raised $1,000 from foundations, individuals, and businesses, including NYSNA, which donated $500. “The comfort kits started as an idea we nurses had, then turned into a little charity called Healing Threads,” said Mary Molly Shea, RN. “It can be painful for a patient to give over their clothes as evidence—and for many women, they may be giving up their favorite outfit or only good bra. Some women would go home in hospital
“I’m so proud of the SANE nurses because they go above and beyond what is required of an ER nurse,” said Karen. “We are always accepting donations, and we have more activities planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and Sexual Assault Awareness Month next May.” SANE nurses were pleased with the success of their most recent fundraising drive, which gained local media attention. In reflecting on the success of the comfort kit drive, Mary Molly said, “Nurses should know that whatever their areas is, small meaningful projects can make a big difference. The big lesson I learned is that it doesn’t hurt to ask when you need something.” ECMC nurses can drop by the Emergency Department to donate cash, new clothes or toiletries. They can also seek out Karen or Loretta for advice or referrals concerning sexual assault or domestic violence.
WE ARE NURSES, WE ARE NYSNA!
I got involved because I didn’t feel like the members knew what was going on. I wanted to make a change. I began monthly meetings with all the RNs where we discussed everyone’s issues. We held a picnic in the summer just to get together outside work. We had monthly POA campaigns. I helped a lot of members facing disciplinary action, and was able to work well with management to negotiate good outcomes. Mostly I got involved because I believe that YOU are the union. It’s not just three people who take care of business. We all need to be active.
Q: How has being a NYSNA member helped you?: Ask a Nurse: Lynette Roland, RN Q: How long have you been a nurse? I’ve been a nurse for 35 years—I’m retiring in July. I spent my first 25 years at Erie County Home/ Terrace View Long Term Care, and I still work in long-term care at ECMC.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a nurse? I have always done long term care. I feel like a family member to many patients. I see them every day. I can help with any problems they have—medical and psychological. Some are lonely. I can make a change in their day-to-day living.
Q:
When and why did you first get involved in NYSNA? I became an RN in 1992 and got involved in NYNSA in ’93. I’ve held many roles, like Chairperson, member of the delegate assembly, and committee member. I have negotiated a few contracts and seen some big wins—we eliminated mandatory overtime. We won double pay for overtime in our contract. I remember almost exactly when we got rid of mandatory overtime, because my niece is 18 now. It was Christmas Day and management needed one more nurse, but because no one volunteered, they mandated everyone. We were not happy. Shortly after that, we got the law passed eliminating mandatory overtime!
It’s given me extra support. It’s given me a backbone to speak up because I knew I was protected. We have helped advance safe patient handling and safe staffing. NYSNA helps with the safety of the staff and the patient. Being protected by a contract also means I have excellent benefits—I know I’m very fortunate. My family went through a major health emergency years ago, and at least I didn’t have to worry about money— my health insurance covered everything.
Q: What would you say to a co-worker who hasn’t
been very involved in NYSNA about why they should care about the Janus vs. AFSCME case at the Supreme Court, or about the broader attack on unions and workers’ rights? You need to be protected by a union, because in nursing, people can perceive what’s been done differently. A patient can think you said one thing, when you said another, and management can say the patient is always right. Union protection means that you can dispute what happened, have an investigation, and keep your job. Our contract, decent pay, paid time off—all of our benefits would got to waste. If the union went away, there’d be no reason for employers to continue giving these benefits. We have power in numbers.
Q:
What do you think we as NYSNA members should do to fight back to protect our jobs and our union? We have to stand together. Everyone has to want to be in the union and pay the dues. We need to involve more people so it’s clear we won’t back down. Something as small as one more person on a committee can make a difference. Our new safe staffing committee could really use the extra hands.
* If you know a NYSNA member who deserves to be recognized, please email NYNurse@nysna.org with your suggestion
JUNE 2018
Health Insurance Audit Deadline Approaching! The Labor-Management Healthcare Fund of Erie County Medical Center is conducting an audit. All active and retired NYSNA nurses in the LMHF health insurance plan will be subject to the audit, which is focused on reviewing dependent enrollees and determining if they are eligible to remain on members’ health insurance. It is very important that you review the materials mailed to your home from LMHF, and that you re-enroll your dependents by July 20, 2018. You will need to re-verify your dependents; otherwise they will be automatically terminated from your health insurance after the deadline. This does not apply to our dental insurance, or to retirees who are enrolled only in Medicare/IHA.
A Newsletter for NYSNA RNs at Erie County Medical Center
Audit Timeline
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Mailed the week of 5/28/2018 Mailed throughout Status Letter the Verification process Mailed the week of Reminder Letter 6/25/2018
u
Verification Deadline
7/20/2018
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Final Status Letter
Mailed 7/23/2018
Appeals
7/30/2018 8/31/2018
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Intro Letter
Please review the timeline to be aware of upcoming communications and deadlines.
Know Your Contract: Personal Leave Time Have you ever been denied personal leave? Have you ever looked at our contract language? If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Rep.
11.03 Personal Leave Full-time employees including temporary and provisional personnel will become eligible for and receive four (4) days (32 hours) personal leave after one (1) year of continuous service and also become eligible for and receive the same allowance for each succeeding year of employment providing they are on a compensable salary and wage basis for at least six (6) months of continuous service in the preceding anniversary year and otherwise meet all eligibility requirements. Personal leave is not cumulative from year to year. Unused personal leave credit shall be added to an employee’s accumulated sick leave bank at the end of the employee’s anniversary year. This addition does not extend the permissible accumulation of sick leave beyond the maximum provided by this Agreement. Once an employee has reached the maximum sick leave accumulation allowed under Section 11.07 Sick Leave, unused personal leave shall go into an employee’s vacation bank. In order for the department head and/or the immediate supervisor to arrange for adequate work coverage, applications for personal leave must be filed by an employee on a prescribed form with the head of the department or immediate supervisor at least five (5) working days in advance when the requested time is four (4) days, and three (3) working days in advance when the requested time is for three (3) days or less. There shall be no restrictions as to when this leave is to be taken unless stated in this Section. In cases of emergency, the five (5) or three (3) days of advance notice may be waived by the department head. All the requests must receive the approval of the employee’s immediate supervisor or department head and shall not be granted in less than one (1) hour units. Personal leave may be used in one (1) hour units, if staffing permits. In cases of personal emergency, when the above time limits have expired, the Employer will make an effort to find a replacement before invoking staffing needs as basis for denial. In cases of reinstatement or transfers, unused personal leave credits shall be restored or transferred.
UPCOMING EVENTS (For more information or to register, ask your NYSNA Rep)
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CONVENTION DELEGATE ELECTION June 29, Overflow Cafeteria
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LABOR DAY PARADE September 3, Buffalo
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MEDICAL MISSION & DISASTER RELIEF September 4 - 14, Philippines
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WESTERN NY INTER-REGIONAL August 29, Buffalo
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WESTERN NY INTER-REGIONAL December 12, Buffalo
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2019 SEMINAR AT SEA May 12-19, Spain
Erie County nurses marched in Buffalo’s annual Pride Parade, in a celebration of our diversity and our committment to care for all New Yorkers.
Executive Committee Kevin Donovan, Vice Co-Chair, 7 Zone 4 Cathy Bystrak, Grievance Chair, 6 North Lynne Roland, Terrace View Co-Chair, Cazenovia Karen Green, Terrace View Vice Co-Chair, Supervisor Heather Scott, Secretary, Behavioral Health Clinics Raymond Rebmann, Membership Chair, 7 Zone 1 Elizabeth McRae, Terrace View Specialty, Mable Park Steve Bailey, Terrace View Specialty, Kensington Sarah Ott, Behavioral Health Specialty, 5 South Rachel Larkin, Behavioral Health Specialty, 5 South Katrina Reynolds, CPEP Specialty, CPEP Loretta Palermo, Emergency Dept. Specialty, ED Sarah Chmura, Med/ Surg Specialty, 8 North Shawntres Currin, Med/Surg Specialty, 7 Zone 2 Murnita Bennett, At-Large, Care Management
Floor Delegates Dana Brown, Anesthesiology Ann Dowdell, 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 Ben Stanford, Delegate over all Unit Managers Maria Galante-Cichon, ASU Valeta Dunn, 8 Zone 1 Lee Barnett, OR Liam Morrissey, OR Chiqkena Collins, MICU Jennifer Brinkworth, 4 Zone 4 Sherry Thomas, PACU Delores Mitchell, TV Botanical Gardens Lisa Nowak, TV Canalside
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 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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