Open Meeting for All ONA Members to be held on Saturday, August 9 at 1:00 pm at ONA Headquarters, 4000 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43213.
Agenda: The first 7 months implementation of new dues structure.
Please RSVP to Nancy Johnson at njohnson@ohnurses.org or 614-462-1034 by 12 noon on Friday August 8.
See ONA's website at www.ohnurses.org.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My new scanner was delivered yesterday. As promised attached are the documents I have received related to the RNA concerns with ONA and the concerns of a Group of Very Concerned ONA Members.
I don't know who is sending the correspondence as the "Group of Very Concerned ONA Members" are not identified. I don't think the correspondence is being mailed to all ONA members. I do know that although I too am a concerned ONA member, I am not part of the Group of Very Concerned ONA Members referenced in these mailings to Gingy Harshey-Meade, CEO of ONA, the ONA Board of Directors, and the Economic & General Welfare Commission.
Also attached is correspondence from one of ONAs largest bargaining units, the Registered Nurse Association (RNA) at University Hospital (Cincinnati) that I received in addition to the correspondence from the "Group of Very Concerned ONA Members."
***************************************************************************************
I am a member of the American Nurses Association and the Ohio Nurses Association. Not because I agree with or support 100% what these organizations do but because its the only way that I can remain a delegate of the Center for American Nurses. I won't bore you with the details but if you want to know more read my posts under professional association news and professional association drama.
As a ONA member I have received copies of correspondence ( 3 letters) this month and last month addressed to Gingy Harshey-Meade, CEO of ONA, the ONA Board of Directors and the E&GW Commission. I ordered a new scanner and I will post this correspondence on my blog sometime this month.
The latest piece of correspondence dated June 20th, references the May 16th correspondence. The group is essentially calling for Gingy's resignation as CEO and demanding an accounting of the UAN mobilization fund monies. See http://www.mnnurses.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={B8180AA1-EB52-42D2-8ADB-BF1F692B4644} for a nice summary of the issues associated with the ANA, UAN, Center, and State Nursing Associations. You can also search "ANA" on www.allnurses.com.
This is addressed to the Group of Very Concerned ONA Members. Please identify yourselves. Your correspondence would carry alot more weight and credence if it was signed by this Group of Very Concerned ONA Members.
I am a ONA member and I am very concerned about the future of ONA and the need for workforce advocacy efforts and services for nurses here in Ohio. To be frank, oh I have to watch what I say now.....
I am not a party to the group sending the correspondence to the ONA Board, CEO, and EGW however I am willing to identify myself and state my concerns.
Dear, Group of Very Concerned ONA Members, I too am concerned about the future of ONA.
Dear Group of Very Concerned ONA Members, please identify yourselves because who you are and what you have to say is important.
I am pleased to announce that I have been retained as a consultant to work with the Center for American Nurses on legal projects. Onward and Forward!!
See the Center's new website at http://www.centerforamericannurses.org.
Chances are if you are reading this post, that you are a nurse and you are not a member of any nursing professional association.
Howeve I would encourage you to review the Center's website and considering joining the Center for American Nurses.
Oh and its my birthday today. I am 37 years young. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeypOvsY91Q.
See this press release from the UAN President Ann Converso regarding the Michigan Nurses Association's withdrawl from the American Nurses Association.
http://www.uannurse.org/media/press.html?view=press_release&press_id=356&year=2008.
Silver Spring, MD – UAN President Ann Converso, RN, today commended the members of the Michigan Nurses Association for their longstanding commitment to staff nurses, the union movement and the important work of the United American Nurses, AFL-CIO:
“In their recent decision to withdraw from the American Nurses Association, the Michigan Nurses Association again demonstrates that their first and foremost priority is to champion the cause of staff nurses. By comparison, actions by the American Nurses Association at their House of Delegates made it clear that staff nurses are an afterthought or even an annoyance on the ANA priority list.
“On behalf of the UAN Executive Council, I salute MNA for taking this courageous stand for staff nurses, our patients and our profession. Despite the decisions by the ANA House to once again relegate staff nurses to second-class citizens within their organization, UAN remains steadfast in our mission to have staff nurses driving our organization—in our fight for safe staffing ratios, safe patient handling legislation, the right to choose a union, organizing unorganized nurses and more. I know we will be successful because we are building on the powerful work undertaken by MNA and other strong UAN Affiliates in their own states.”
*****************************************************************************************
I posted about this mess starting months ago and the crap is hitting the fan now that the ANA House of Delegates is over. This is the reason why the majority of nurses don't join and support the ANA Enterprise unless its mandated.
I missed the ANA House of Delegates this week. I attended the Center for American Nurses Membership Council meeting but had to leave immediately after because of business. (Hey, I have to make a living too!). This were starting to heat up when I departed on Monday however alot of the delegates and state nurses association presidents and executive directors had not arrived for the House of Delegates (Wed-Friday).
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) has 10,000 members and has decided to w/d from the American Nurses Association.
See the Press Release. http://www.minurses.org/news/press/2008/062708ana.shtml.
As a member of the American Bar Association, I receive the ABA Journal. The May 2008 issue has a report from the Executive Director, Henry White. Its A Small World: How the ABA is relevant in Anytown, USA. http://www.abajournal.com/
The Executive Director noted that ABA attorney membership has remained constant over the last two decades. Attorney membership never dipped below 340,000 practicing lawyers. This year, the ABA's attorney membership is 352,000. Membership has also never risen above 362,000. There are 1.1 million lawyers.
The ABA Executive Director is pushing for all attorneys to join the ABA and states "we need to make the case that we're relevant every day to the professional lives of all of America's lawyers."
Membership in the American Association Association, State Bar Associations (Ohio State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, etc.), and local bar associations (Cincinnati Bar Association, etc.) are seperate fees. You don't pay one fee and belong to the national, state, and local bar associations.
Personally, I think this is better system because it allows attorneys to pick and choose which organization to support. I belong to the ABA, Ohio State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, and Kentucky Bar Association (its a integrated bar association; membership is included with my licensure fees). I don't belong to the Cincinnati Bar Association. Why? I practice in suburban Cincinnati and I don't think Cincinnati Bar Association benefits my practice. Its my choice.
Now contrast the ABA with the American Nurses Association. There are almost 3 million RNs in the United States. Less than 150,000 belong to the American Nurses Association.
Also for the most part when you join the American Nurses Association, you join a state nurses association, and a district nurses association. You cannot pick and choose whether you want to join a national, state, or local association.
In your opinion, is ANA making the case that its relevant every day to the professional lives of all of America's registered nurses?
Also most law firms will pay for its attorneys to join the American Bar Association and other specialty bar associations. My bar association memberships were paid when I worked for a law firm.
Do you think healthcare organizations and nursing employers should or would ever pay for registered nurses to join the American Nurses Association, State Nurses Associations, and District Nurses Associations?
There is precedent for nursing employers paying professional association dues for nurses. It can happen when the professional association cultivates a relationship with a group of nursing employers. For example, Some skilled nursing facilities pay for its nurse administrators and DONs to join the National Association of Director of Nursing Administration/LTC. http://www.nadona.org/ Email me other examples that you know of and I will add them to this post.
The Kentucky Nurses Association is offering a new workplace advocacy benefit for Kentucky Nurses Association members. KNA members in need of legal consultations and/or representation, counseling, and advising receive a discount with my law firm. Its mentioned in the April-June 2008, Vol. 56, No.2 edition of the Kentucky Nurse. See http://www.nursingald.com/uploads/newsletters/KY062008.pdf.
If you follow this blog, you know that I am a due paying and card carrying member of the American Nurses Association and Ohio Nurses Association. I strongly urge all nurses to support national, specialty, and state nurses associations because these groups advocate for YOU.
For additional information about the Kentucky Nurses Association see, http://www.kentucky-nurses.org.
The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) issued a Call for Presentations to its membership. The Annual meeting and conference takes place October 23-25 in Tampa, Florida. See http://www.taana.org/.
Suggested topics for podium and poster presentation during the conference include:
• Criminalization of unintentional error
• Licensure defense
• Legal issues relating to nursing home litigation, e.g., death by restraints, elopement, and
locked Alzheimer’s units
• Effect of collateral sources reimbursement on settlement
• Potential legal malpractice relating to settlement (failure to address tax consequences, offer structured settlements, achieve agreements relating to division of settlement by multiple claimants, obtain approval for claims involving minors, address liens)
• Asserting and defending bad faith claims
• Asserting and defend qui tam claims, class actions, or product liability claims
• Practice tips for negotiation, mediation, arbitration
• Challenges to expert testimony
• Employment issues (WC, potential effects of disability on licenses, discrimination, termination, Charge nurses as exempt employees)
• Legal issues relating to Medicare managed care agreements, physician recruiting agreements, binding arbitration agreements, indemnification clauses
• Legal issues relating to Medicare Part D
• Regulatory responses to electronic medical records
• Negotiating Health Care Technology Contracts
• Ethical and legal risks of law firm websites and blogs
• Issues and updates regarding STARK regulations
• Ethics in research (IRB issues, conflict of interest etc)
• Creating and influencing legislation, policy, and change, e.g., testifying before legislative
committees, effective bill drafting, “lobbying” versus “advocating”, and representing professional associations
• Promoting legal rights of vulnerable populations, e.g., aliens, indigents, the elderly, children, developmentally disabled, abused individuals, and those who are un-insured or under-insured
• Legal and ethical issues regarding organ donation
• The use of critical listening and persuasive communications skills
• Standards of care for healthcare providers after disaster strikes
• Erosion of confidentiality
• Rainmaking strategies
• Health Law Courts for Medical Malpractice Litigation.
I presented a poster several years ago at a TAANA conference and I haven't attended a TAANA conference since then. Not sure if I will attend this one either. This conference was originally planned to take place in Lexington, Kentucky and the location was changed for whatever reason. Lexington, Kentucky is driving distance from Cincinnati, Ohio. By the way, I can drive to Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky with my eyes closed.
I wasn't blown away with the TAANA conference I attended in Chicago, Illinois. Legal conferences tend to be expensive, go figure. When I worked for a large firm, the firm paid for the conference and all my travel expenses. I am an attorney in private practice therefore the firm's money is my money.
I will not attend a legal or nursing conference, seminar, or convention unless it fosters my professional development or the marketing of my law and consulting firms.
I personally can't stomach spending $1,000-$2,000.00 (registration, hotel, flight, networking and evening activities, etc.) unless the conference is spectacular and I really want to travel to a particular city. See http://www.wordreference.com/definition/spectacular for a definition of spectacular.
Now, I will probably spend this amount to attend the Center for American Nurses LEAD Summit (www.centerforamericannurses.org) and Membership Council Meeting and the American Nurses Association House of Delegates. I will be in DCA for 6 days in June, I believe. I am an Ohio Nurses Association delegate for the Center Membership Council and ANA House of Delegates. And I can't wait until June!!!!
When TAANA schedules its conference in a location where I can learn about the latest and cutting edge legal and nursing issues for licensure defense attorneys and gamble; I will be there. If TAANA holds an annual meeting and conference in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, I will make the Super Duper Early Bird Registration deadline.
This is from the ANA website. See www.nursingworld.org.
The ANA Nominating Committee has extended the call for nominations for a slate of candidates to be presented to the House of Delegates for a vote at its June 25-27, 2008 meeting in Washington, D.C. The deadline for the submission of nominations for the initial slate has been extended to February 25, 2008.
The following are the open slots which are available:
President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, five Directors-at-Large positions including two Staff Nurse Directors-at-Large, five Congress on Nursing Practice and Economic Positions, and four Nominating Committee positions.
*****************************************************************************************
I was elected to the Congress on Nursing Practice & Economics at the 2006 House of Delegates in Washington, DC. Its a four year term. I would encourage you to consider running for the Congress.
On another note. This is the first year in a long time where I am not running for a national, state, or local office in a nursing professional association. Why? I am tired and my law practice is keeping me busier than ever.
Don't get me wrong, I am still involved. However I decline committee invitations more readily now than I did in the past. I was asked this week to sit on the planning committee for a national convention. I declined very eloquently.
I am attending the ANA House of Delegates in the Ohio Nurses Association delegation in June. I was elected as an ANA Delegate at the Ohio Nurses Association Convention in October 2007. I was elected as a Center for American Nurses Association delegate at the ONA Convention. I am attending the Center for American Nursing Membership Council Meeting and LEAD Summit in June.
See http://centerforamericannurses.org/.
I will be in D.C. from June 21st-June 27th attending professional association meetings and I am looking forward to it. Are you active in profession?
I credit Karen Bankston, PhD, RN who is the CEO of the Drake Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and Margaret Wheatley, PhD, RN a nursing professor at the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University and former past president of the Ohio Nurses Association with encouraging me to become active in the profession.
Recent Comments