Registered nurses at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, Calif., have voted to join the California Nurses Association, part of National Nurses United, according to The Times-Standard.
Here are three things to know about the decision.
1. Redwood Memorial, part of the St. Joseph Health system, a large Catholic health system with hospitals in California and Texas, is one of the latest hospitals to have workers join CNA. The organization represents 1,500 RNs at five SJH hospitals, including nearby St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, Petaluma Valley Hospital in Petaluma, Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, and St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley. RNs at several other St. Joseph hospitals are also seeking to join CNA.
2. The RNs at Redwood Memorial chose the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United because "we know the difference it will make for our patients who expect us to be an advocate for them when they come to the hospital," Linda Gelphman, an RN in the hospital's short stay unit, said in a news release.
3. For Redwood Memorial RNs, key concerns are "strengthening the voice of bedside RNs to advocate for improved patient care delivery and better standards for RNs," according to a news release. Other concerns include safe RN staffing ratios; a collective bargaining contract; dedicated RNs to assure nurses can safely take meal and rest breaks; lift and transport teams to reduce the risk of nurse injuries, patient falls and accidents; and greater ability to object to unsafe assignments.