Stephanie Stevens, RN
Warm sunny beaches… the sound of a distant boat horn as the ferry pulls in to the dock… seagulls screeching as they float on the sea breezes… That is Martha’s Vineyard, a beautiful island of southeast Massachusetts off the southwest coast of Cape Cod. It was settled in 1642, and was a whaling and fishing center in the 18th and early 19th centuries and is now a popular resort area. **
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is a general medical and surgical hospital in Oak Bluffs, MA with 25 beds. It is accredited by the Joint Commission (JC). Survey data for the latest year available shows that 14,941 patients visited the hospital’s emergency room. The hospital had a total of 997 admissions. Its physicians performed 103 inpatient and 1,680 outpatient surgeries.* the hospital has recently moved to a new building. The nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association for the purposes of collective bargaining… it is a proud union hospital.
Rick Lambos RN became active in MNA in 1975 as a negotiating team member and became the local MNA Chair at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in 1976 until November 2011. That is 35 years as chairperson of his bargaining unit! During that time Rick represented the nurses, not only in contract negotiations but also in grievances and arbitrations. He also came to the mainland to testify at arbitrations for other MNA nurses… all voluntary work…mostly done on his own time with no pay. That is true dedication and Rick is a prime example of why the nurses at MNA are so strong… dedication and hard work! Rick has worked as a Registered Nurse in the ICU, OR, PACU, ASU, and ER of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital from 1974 to the present.
Rick first got involved at the state level in 1986 when the PE&GW Cabinet, the then governing body of the labor relations program at MNA, was formed. He later served as the Treasurer of the Cabinet for four years and then became an MNA Board member in early 90’s. He took a several year hiatus from the state scene while his sons were growing up so he could watch them play football around Massachusetts and many northeast states in high school and college. He returned to the state level just prior to the disaffiliation from ANA and became a member of the “New Board of MNA.”
Rick got active in Regional Council 3 about eight years ago and has been the Treasurer for most of that time period. He provides valued insight to the other nurses on the Council who represent other bargaining units throughout southeastern Massachusetts…dedication and hard work!
The thing is… Rick lives on an island. All this involvement means, not just getting in the car and driving to a meeting, he has to get on a ferry and make a (sometimes very bumpy) crossing to the mainland and then drive to the meetings…and then get home the same way…dedication and hard work!
Rick has recently stepped down from his Chairperson position at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, Regional Council 3, and the MNA BOD. He is leaving the positions in dedicated and hard working hands. After 35 years, Rick deserves a little rest… BUT WE MISS YOU RICK! Be well and God bless you for all your dedication and hard work…
Stephanie Stevens, RN
Chairperson, Regional Council 3
** http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Martha’s+Vineyard
* http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/martha’s-vineyard -hospital-6141640
Thank You.
Stephanie Stevens, RN, CNOR
Chairperson MNA Region 3
To read more from this newsletter, download the PDF here.
“
