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MNA members approved their 2009 Legislative Platform which focuses on the priorities of Staffing for Patient Safety, Health Care Reform, and the Employee Fee Choice Act.
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Continuing the Association's dedication to safeguard the integrity of nursing practice, delegates voted to fortify MNA's commitment to pursue legislation aimed at ensuring safe patient staffing levels. "When there are too few nurses, quality and safety of the patient is impaired, and the overall quality of health care in diminished," said MNA President, Linda Slattengren, RN. "Establishing safe staffing standards for direct care Registered Nurses is a critical component of assuring adequate hospital staffing at all levels to improve the delivery of quality care and protect patient safety. Staffing issues in general are cited as the cause of 24 percent of unexpected negative patient outcomes or 'sentinel events,' and there is demonstrated evidence of an increased number of events since 1998."
Delegates assigned its Board of Directors, the Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF) and its Commission on Education to explore ways to assist and encourage people from diverse communities to pursue a career in professional nursing, and to report back at the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Regarding organizational issues, members voted to withdraw as a constituent member of the American Nurses Association due to concerns related ANA's lack of focus on labor issues. MNA will continue its membership in the United American Nurses and the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
The annual meeting also afforded the opportunity to celebrate achievement and achievers during the Honors and Awards ceremonies. Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation Chair, Sara McCumber announced the distribution of $125,000 to recipients of educational scholarships and research grants. Ms. McCumber praised MNA members for their contributions to the Foundation, saying, "The efforts of MNAF help expand our vision of what is possible."
Carrying on the theme of expanded vision, MNA honored individual nurse members who have made stellar contributions to the profession, their communities, patients and co-workers. "We wish to acknowledge and support their endeavors, and convey our respect and gratitude for their contributions that enrich us," said Ms. Slattengren.
Award recipients are noted as follows:
Public Official Award
Senator Sharon Erickson-Ropes, RN
DFL-Winona
Representative Erin Murphy, RN
DFL-St. Paul
Representative Paul Thissen
DFL-Minneapolis
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award
Gordon McArthur, RN
Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis
Rochelle "Riki" Scheela, RN, CNS, PhD
Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center & Bemidji State University
Mentorship Award
Patricia Dwyer, RN
Miller Dwan Hospital, Duluth
Nurse Educator Award
Linda Lindeke, RN, CNP, PhD
University of Minnesota
Nurse Research Award
Christine Mueller, RN, BC, PhD
University of Minnesota
Audrey Logsdon/Geraldine Wedel Economic and General Welfare Award
Cynthia Prout, RN
St. Luke's Hospital, Duluth
Ruth L. Haas Excellence in Nursing Practice Award
Deborah Meyer, RN
Worthington Regional Hospital, Worthington
President's Award
Barb Miller, RN
Fairview Southdale Hospital & Executive Director, 4th District Nurses Assoc.
Uniting nurses in vision and voice since 1905. With 20,000 members, MNA is the leading organization for registered nurses in the Midwest and is among the oldest and largest representatives of RNs for collective bargaining in the nation. MNA is a multi-purpose union that fosters high standards for nursing education and practice, and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. MNA is affiliated with the United American Nurses and the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
SOURCE Minnesota Nurses Association
