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Redefining the Safety Net

Should California establish a Basic Health Program for certain low-income residents? CHCF's Marian Mulkey captures a recent policy conversation in a Health Affairs blog.

Accountable Care in Action

A new post on the Health Affairs blog details how CalPERS kept costs down in Sacramento through a "virtual" ACO with insurers and providers.

Career Opportunity: Senior Program Officer

This position will play a major role in furthering the goals and objectives of the foundation's Better Chronic Disease Care program.

Doctors and Nurses

Monday, February 06, 2012

Calif. Nurses Union's Tactics Raise Questions, Concerns

A confluence of factors such as a growing shortage of nurses and reduced funding for nursing education programs has given the California Nurses Association greater political clout and bargaining power. In recent months, CNA has participated in several one-day strikes in support of other hospital employees who are in the midst of tough contract negotiations. Critics say the union's tactics are putting patient care at risk.

  • "Nurses Flex Their Political Muscle in Sacramento and Across California" (Smith/Reese, Sacramento Bee, 2/5).

    • Reader Comments:
    • 2
    • 02/07/2012
    • Eric Peterson

    RNs in California are required by law to give at least 10 days notice of any organized job interruptions. Hospitals have more than enough time to contract with an array of temporary RN staffing corporations to provide scab RNs to cover. Usually hospital managers are comfortable enough with the competence of these replacement RNs to lockout their own RNs for additional 4 days after a single day RN job action.

    It clearly reveals a cynical anti-union bias to suggest that RN job actions put patient care at risk.

    The true risk to patient care are the heartless and mindless budget based decisions by hospital administrators that drive desperate RNs to organize into a union in order to effectively defend themselves and their patients.

    • 1
    • 02/06/2012
    • Dick Vittitow

    I have great respect for the California Nurses Association. I find them working effectively for the interests of their workers and not afraid to use both their muscles and their hearts. The shortage of nurses is more easily explained by a state and its corporate lobbyists who refuse to provide the universities and colleges with the necessary funds to train those waiting 3 and 4 years to get into nursing schools. The muscles and political clout I am more concerned about are those highly-paid corporate minds in charge of our health "insurance" cartels as well as those sitting on our board of university regents. Go, CNA, Go!



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