'A New Day for Nurses, New Day for Patient Advocacy'; Pennsylvania Nurses Create New, Independent Organization; Largest RN/Allied Professionals Group in Alliance with California RNs.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

CARLISLE, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--May 25, 2000

Calling it a "historic day for nurses and patients," 6,000 Pennsylvania registered nurses voted Wednesday to establish a new independent organization that will represent RNs and other health professionals at many of Pennsylvania's largest hospitals.

"This is a new day for direct care nurses and a new day for patient advocacy," said Teri Evans, President of the new Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP). Formerly affiliated with the Pennsylvania State Education Association, PASNAP is the successor to PSEA's Health Care Employees Division.

The nurses and health professionals voted overwhelmingly in a special convention in Carlisle Wednesday to create an alliance with the 31,000-member California Nurses Association. Together the two organizations are in the forefront of what its leaders said would be a new, national independent nurses movement.

In addition to CNA, the delegates were joined by leaders of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, United Nurses and Allied Professionals of Rhode Island, and other independent nurses in Pennsylvania. Greetings also came from the Maine State Nurses Association, whose representative was delayed in air travel. Other nurses from around the U.S. have also been calling to express interest in the new national movement, said CNA.

"I'm glad to be a part of this history making at the beginning," said Michele Mobley, an oncology nurse at Mercy Fitzgerald hospital, after the vote.

"It's time for us to stand united. This will give us the opportunity to move forward, the ability to move forward for safe patient care," said Virnell Graham, who works in the infusion unit at Temple University hospital.

"We're excited because this is the best way to advocate for our community in Wyoming Valley," said Sandra Solovey, an ER nurse at Wyoming Valley. "Safe, quality, patient care is under attack, and nurses need a stronger, more unified voice to protect our patients, our practice, and our colleagues."

The leaders of what has become PASNAP contacted CNA earlier this year and asked for assistance in creating an organization modeled after CNA. California's 27-member Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer support, assistance and solidarity as the first step in building an independent national nurses movement for direct care RNs.

"What's happening to patients and nurses in California is happening to patients and nurses everywhere. The abuses don't stop at the border. Our alliance will be a voice for nurses," said CNA President Kay McVay. "By speaking for nurses, you're advocating for each and every patient."

Several Pennsylvania nurses spoke of the model California nurses have provided with strong agreements at more than 100 facilities across the nation's most populous state, and the enactment of far reaching legislation, including the passage last year of the first minimum nurse to patient ratio law in the nation.

"The biggest problem in our facility is short staffing," said Bobbi McClay, an IV team nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. "There's not enough nurses at the bedside caring for patients today. We probably compile 30 to 50 unsafe staffing forms a month. With CNA and the other nurses organizations, we have the whole force of nursing behind us. Things are going to change."

"There has to be a national organization of nurses," Julie Pinkham, director of Labor Relations for the 21,000-member Massachusetts Nurses Association told the delegates. "We can no longer look outside to others to protect our practice and our patients. Our health care system is in chaos. You're the one the American public trusts more than anyone else to tell the truth about our health care system."

Lynn Blais, president of the United Association of Allied Professionals of Rhode Island, brought appreciation and encouragement for the bold move of the Pennsylvania nurses. She described how powerful their independent association has become in representing health care professionals and patients rights issues.

"It was a very exciting day when Pennsylvania nurses came to us and said it' s time to form a national alliance for nurses. Our members believe that teachers represent teachers, auto workers represent auto workers, and nurses should represent nurses," said CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro. "We are going to change the way health care is delivered in this nation. You're going to set this state on fire," she told the delegates, "and we're going to help you do that."