May 31, 2025
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9 May 2017

OPEIU Nurses Take Capitol Hill to Demand Nurse Safe Staffing Legislation

“It’s Your Health, Your Families and Your Constituents We’re Fighting to Protect”

Washington, D.C. – Nurse members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, from around the country will descend on Capitol Hill on Friday, May 5, 2017, to meet with their legislators and demand safe nurse to patient ratio legislation aimed at protecting nurses, patients and their families.

The nurses, represented by the OPEIU Nurses Council (ONC), will also participate in the Nurses Take DC Rally for Safe Nurse to Patient Ratios, joining an anticipated 10,000 nurses from around the country who are gathering to raise public awareness of the dangers posed by unsafe nurse staffing levels in hospitals and medical clinics. ONC Vice Chair Julie Murray, RN, is among the scheduled speakers.
Safe Staffing Saves Lives 13 April 2017

Safe Staffing Saves Lives

Two new safe staffing bills have been introduced in New York and Ohio. Democratic Senator Michael Skindell from Ohio has proposed SB 324 to the Ohio legislature. This bill mirrors the staffing ratios set in California in 2004. New York Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has proposed A01532 titled the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act. This bill also sets ratios and also addresses the issues of long term care facilities by determining staffing according to a minimum of care hours per resident per day for RNs, LPNs and CNAs. For RNs it would be figured at 0.75 divided among all shifts 24 hours a day divided amongst all shifts for seven days a week. For LPNs it is 1.3 hours and CNAs are at 2.8 hours.
21 February 2017

A Letter to the Doctors and Nurses Who Cared for My Wife

Peter DeMarco and his wife, Laura Levis, hiking together last summer in Scotland. Credit Photo courtesy of Peter DeMarco
After his 34-year-old wife suffered a devastating asthma attack and later died, the Boston writer Peter DeMarco wrote the following letter to the intensive care unit staff of CHA Cambridge Hospital who cared for her and helped him cope.
2 December 2016

What to Do if You Are Targeted at Work for Violence, Harassment or Hate Speech

Since Donald Trump won the election, nearly 900 incidents of violence, hate speech and harassment have been reported. In light of these attacks, it's important that you know what your rights are and what you can do if you or someone you know is the target of one of these attacks in the workplace. Click on the links to learn more about your rights, what constitutes illegal activity and what you can do about it if you are targeted.
2 December 2016

Watch Local 459's Julie Murray speak on nurse staffing legislation

Julie - On Staffing and Legislation from Nursebuzz on Vimeo.

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Download the OPEIU App!

The OPEIU app is available for free download. It’s a great way to stay connected to your union, learn more about your membership benefits, find links to OPEIU’s social media networks and much more. Available for free download for iOS devices on the App Store and for Android devices on Google Play by searching OPEIU.

 

About the ONC

The OPEIU Nurses Council (ONC) was established by OPEIU members who are nurses, giving them a means to participate in the resolution of issues affecting their nursing practice. The ONC helps foster a climate of professionalism within the nursing community, promoting best practices regarding patient care, safety concerns and compensation issues. The ONC advocates for legislation to improve working conditions and improve patient care, including measures that address nurse-to-patient ratios and violence against health care workers. Its primary goal is to advance the professional image of the nursing profession. 

For more information, please email us at info@opeiunursescouncil.org

 

Latest OPEIU Connect



The ONC is a council of the OPEIU, which represents 103,000 members in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than 10,000 nurses and healthcare professionals. Click Here for More Info