Like I would care that much.
Posted on 10/26/2021 12:52:43 PM PDT by Kaslin
Nurses have been a critical part of our country’s COVID response. Lying in a hospital bed, looking beyond a respirator mask, every patient hopes to find one of these healthcare heroes looking over them.
Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the United States, and rightly so. Due in large part to the Nursing Code of Ethics that they adhere to, this modified vow, similar to the medical doctors' Hippocratic Oath, pledges autonomy, beneficence, justice and non-maleficence. It is exactly what a patient would want and need. Unfortunately, during today’s pandemic, unions are pushing nursing almost beyond limits and testing the Nursing Code of Ethics and correspondingly, treatment for patients.
Historically, unions have played an important role in bridging the gap between industry magnates and disenfranchised workers. They gave an avenue for grievances to be addressed and argued for higher wages, but their necessity has dwindled in recent years.
A tight labor market and historic nursing shortage has resulted in pay for nurses growing faster than the national average. And while unionized nurses make 19% more on average versus their nonunionized counterparts, much of that difference is offset by union dues and accounted for by the fact that many unionized nurses are located in states, such as California and New York, where the cost of living is higher.
Furthermore, social media and 24-hour news cycles have provided nurses with much easier avenues to highlight workplace issues. Accordingly, employers have made significant strides in recent years in instituting procedures to properly address employee grievances. As a result of all these developments, union bosses are left with few ways in which they can try to add value.
The stakes could not be higher because for union leadership because healthcare is a cash cow. Nursing unions play a significant role in healthcare, representing 20.4% of nurses and each member pays about $90 in monthly dues. Often led by labor lawyers unfamiliar with healthcare procedures, these unions feast on approximately $1.3 Billion in annual dues and use the threat of labor unrest to justify their existence. That is not a healthy environment during the stress of a pandemic.
So, how have union leaders attempted to remain relevant during the pandemic? The largest association of registered nurses in the country, National Nurses United (NNU), has threatened several strikes across the country in an attempt to secure higher wages and has simultaneously blamed hospitals for staffing shortages instead of trying to work with the healthcare industry to find ways to alleviate the issue.
Were NNU to ultimately call a strike, nurses could not go to their healthcare facilities but would instead have to stay home or walk a picket line with signs produced by the union. The union would then create a list of grievances and/or ask for higher wages while the sick and dying linger in hospital beds. How does that fit into the Nursing Code of Ethics? Clearly, the vow doesn’t apply to the labor lawyers that run the nursing unions but what about the unionized nurses who would be forced to strike? They would be faced with the difficult choice of upholding their vow or defying their union.
Daily, lives are saved in our hospitals where nurses provide care. But pandemic demands have stretched and stitched the system. Last year nineteen hospitals were closed because they could not meet the policy and financial challenges to their operations. Such closures are but a symptom of the broader ailment afflicting hospitals.
Putting aside labor shortages, hospitals across the nation are struggling to deal with diminishing finances due to reductions in federal funding, fewer selective, non-life-threatening surgeries, a backlog of challenged Medicare and Medicaid payments, increased cost of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and the additional benefits provided to workers because of the pandemic. Last year it was estimated the hospital system lost an average of $50.7 Billion per month and this year’s projections are up to losses of another $122 Billion. These mounting hospital financial losses make demanding higher wages untimely and likely unattainable, leaving the threat of a prospective union work stoppage.
With all the challenges hospitals are facing, none are of the magnitude to place nurses in a position of violating their own healthcare vows. It is hard to surpass the caring within the heart of a nurse and none of them should have to choose between patient care and satisfying union leadership. Clearly, hospitals and patients need more caring licensed nurses and better funding to cope with pandemic struggles, both of which must be a higher priority for our nation.
An insulting piece of fluff. Bs. Thanks
Firing nurses, docs and other healthcare workers during a ‘pandemic’.
Who’d of ever thought this, in the USA?
Yes all these doctors and nurses in the thousands
Who first hand have seen covid and also the damage the vaxxes have done to both patients and colleagues, and family...
All you armchair medical expert FR Branch Covidians,
All these front-liners are all now ignorant and paranoid and have no idea what they are talking about. You anonymous experts, somehow know better.
You tyrant enablers make me sick. You will be counted with the tyrants as well, you’ve decided who you’re with.
“A tight labor market and historic nursing shortage”
Horshiite
I remember when Nursing was looked down on, they were worked to death, and pissed on by every Boss in the industry.
Old Time Nurses went to night school, or a 2 yr program and got training. Passed state licensing and went to work.
Lots of folks decided to NOT go into it because of low wages, tough dirty work and little recognition.
So we brought in folks from around world. They unionized and got a little pricing power.
Many states today have “Professionalized” the Nursing business. Now it’s a Bachelors Degree +.
Add in the WuHu Kill Shot and many Old Timers are calling it quits. Why go through the expense of more school to get a degree for something you’ve been doing for 20 years?
Artificially created shortage. Now the Flood begins again.
Also, ask a young Nursing student why they are going into it. More often than not; “It’s The Money”.
Colleen McMurphy ain’t showing up.
Mabuhay! Kumusta ka na?
We are witnessing the perfect storm of failure in our medical infrastructure. Over credentialing, pay expectations, working conditions, regulation and uncertain cash flow keep healthcare organizations from being responsive to increased demands. And that is even before discussing the labor union factor.
After paying over $12,000 out of pocket for education to become an LPN, nobody wants to pay more than what she could earn as a cashier at a convenience store. And she’s not inexperienced. She was a certified medical tech for several years before becoming a nurse. That’s what she did with your tax dollars,the extra covid bonus unemployment. She paid for education for a better job. And now she’s taking the money from her new job to further educate herself and become an RN.Unions usually ..well, in the past, only asked for 2 hours wages per month. It was a very small investment for the benefits, the most important being blue cross blue shield master medical family plan...for free with very small easily affordable deductables. It was the rolls royce of medical plans.
People talk about unions being wage suckers but when they’re doing their job, they’re worth every penny.
The article author really needs to dig deeper into the topic...his ignorance is showing.
Just as planned, the only solution will be government single payor.
Shouldn’t All hospitals be turning away anyone suspected of having COVID if they have already been vaccinated?? After all it is safe and effective right? This would free up a lot of space...
How else do you get National Healthcare?
Hm. I wonder if I could get some desperate hospital somewhere to pay for the rest of my nursing degree and hire me. Not likely, but...
Honestly we are already there in practice. The Health Care Finance Admnistration has the bureaucracy in place. Existing commercial payor's model their reimbursement and coverage on existing Medicare regs. The Affordable Care Act pretty much dictates private insurance policies. All that is lacking is Congressional ok. Sad thing is, Corporate America, including hospitals, want it to happen.
This article offers nothing of value unless you are a union organizer. Why post it?
Amen. There is a reason nurses and doctors are walking away from their job.
sue me
Like I would care that much.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.