MNA nurses travel to Washington to address patient care issues

Meeting with U.S. Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry as well as U.S. Congressmen Richard Neal, John Olver, William Delahunt, Jim McGovern and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, nearly two dozen nurses from throughout Massachusetts visited Washington, D.C. in late February to educate their legislators on a wide range of issues.

VNA RNs Fay Alden, Sarah Williams, Judy Rose, Michele Erikson, Greg Pendrick and Chris Clark urged lawmakers to reverse President Bush’s decision to further cut funds from this critical health care work. Nancy Pitrowiski also provided some insight as a care manager for Harvard Pilgrim.

Judy Rose said, “This experience has encouraged me to be more politically active and to encourage other nurses to understand the importance of the political aspect of nursing.”

Mike D’Intinosanto and Chris Folsom went to D.C. to advocate for their colleagues in Unit 7 regarding the Social Security offset and windfall elimination provision. They discussed the unfair penalization of public employees upon retirement and lobbied for bills that would eliminate these practices.

Other RNs from around the state came to discuss the issue of chronic understaffing in their facilities. Dominique Muldoon, Dee Florent, Laurie Spheekas, Lynne Starbard, Sue Mulcahy, Ellen Smith, Kathie Logan, Deb Holmes and Kathy Charette all shared what they routinely experience and observe within their work environment.

Ellen Smith said she was “thrilled to be able to join my colleagues to talk with our legislators about the need for safe RN staffing; the work we do for our patients is too important to stay silent.”

Dee Florent remarked on her first legislative advocacy experience, noting, “My trip to D.C. was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I met some wonderful people and was able to compare notes with other nurses in Massachusetts. I was initially nervous about speaking in a legislative atmosphere as it was something I had never done before. But when I began speaking to my congresswoman the nervousness disappeared because I realized I was doing this for all my future patients. I need to be their advocate and make the legislators of Massachusetts see what we see.”

Laurie Spheekas added, “This opportunity to be part of a team effort to advocate for something I feel strongly about was truly empowering..”

The group was joined by MNA President Beth Piknick and Vice President Donna Kelly- Williams, who helped to educate legislators and their staff about the work and mission of the association.

If you would like to become more involved in the MNA’s community, political and grassroots activity please contact Riley Ohlson at 781-830- 5740 or at rohlson@mnarn.org.

Ted Kennedy: Our advocate, our ally, our friend
He was there to rally the nurses at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester when they were on strike. He introduced federal legislation that would forbid hospitals from requiring nurses work mandatory overtime. He interceded during the Brockton Hospital strike, calling on management to negotiate a fair settlement. And he has been there for us countless other times throughout the years—as our advocate, our ally, our friend.

Now the Massachusetts Nurses Association stands to rally for Sen. Edward Kennedy, whose courageous battle against a malignant brain tumor has begun. The challenges may be many and the future uncertain for this quintessential public servant, but he will not be alone as he journeys down the path to hopeful wellness.

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