October 2010 Pettis Pulse Newsletter

October 2010

Message from the Vice President

Pettis Memorial Registered Nurses Association (PMRNA) has made huge strides in growth, increasing our membership this year by 71 members as of the end of September.

Your awareness and interest in becoming active ensures we remain a thriving and integral part of the Loma Linda VA Hospital. We encourage you to become StarRNs on your respective units. For more information on becoming a StaRN, please speak with one of the PMRNA affiliate officers. Without you we would have no Union. Our Union has improved our workplace conditions and how we provide care for our patients.

As you may know, we have some concerns that need to be addressed at our facility. Among the problems are the following: staffing issues, paycheck distribution errors, and timely grade increases through the Nurse Professional Standards Board Overview process.

You are encouraged to approach your Union representatives to ask questions or to voice any concerns you may have. We are located on the 1st floor, east of the hospital operator and across from housekeeping's laundry room. If you have not yet joined PMRNA and would like to learn more about what it means to become a UNAC/UHCP member, please contact the affiliate office at ext. 2799.

The PMRNA affiliate officers would like to personally thank each and every member for their dedication and diligence in making our hospital equitable and fair. We encourage all of our members to attend the Basic Training class held at our facility. The next class is scheduled for October 30. It is definitely an eye opener that will allow you to better understand the relationship between Labor and Management. CEUs are offered and the class is free.

Thank You,
John Currie, RN
PMRNA Vice President

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Upcoming PMRNA Events

Nurse Professional Standards Board (NPSB) Informational Class
Guest Speaker: Denice McGilvery, Nurse Professional Standards Board

Several options for class dates and times are available by walk-in on a first come, first served basis:

Weekday	Class Date	Time	Location
Monday	Oct. 18	7 a.m. - 8 a.m.	4D26
Monday	Nov. 8	7 a.m. - 8 a.m.	4D26
Monday	Dec. 6	7 a.m. - 8 a.m.	4D26
Tuesday	Oct. 26	7 p.m. - 8 p.m.	Nursing Classroom 4A-25c
Tuesday	Nov. 16	7 p.m. - 8 p.m.	Nursing Classroom 4A-25c
Tuesday	Dec. 14	7 p.m. - 8 p.m.	Nursing Classroom 4A-25c

Basic Training Class
Date: October 30, 2010
Time: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: LLVA, room 4A12 (Nursing classroom on the 4th floor)
CEUs: 6 CEUs, offered upon completion

To sign up for the class, please call the affiliate office at ext. 2799. Seating is limited. Lunch will be provided.

34th Biennial UNAC/UHCP Convention
Date: November 7 – 10
Where: Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, NV

The delegates representing PMRNA at Convention are: John Currie, RN; Deborah Thomas Hill, RN; Rita Ihenacho, RN and Mary Jane Mendoza, RN.

Advanced Labor Management Training Class
Date: November 17-18, 2010
Time: Registration begins at 8:30 am
Location: UNAC/UHCP Headquarters – 955 Overland Ct., Ste. 150, San Dimas, 91773

To register for the Advanced class, please contact Lupe Rodriguez, UNAC/UHCP Administrative Assistant, at (909) 451-0590. Seating is limited. Meals will be provided.

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What are my Weingarten Rights?

Article XXI of the Labor Management Agreement between PMRNA and Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veteran's Hospital details our Weingarten Rights as follows:

Section 2104
The Employer agrees that necessary disciplinary action shall be initiated without delay. Registered Nurses shall have the right to have an Association Representative present at any meeting called by the Employer when the Registered Nurse reasonably believes such meetings may result in disciplinary action.

Section 2105
The employer agrees that where a disciplinary action is contemplated, or when a RN is presenting a grievance or an appeal to a disciplinary board, the RN must be advised of the right to be accompanied, represented and advised by a representative. It is agreed that normal communications and consultation not involved with contemplated discipline is a private matter of communication and consultation between a Registered Nurse and a supervisor.

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StaRN Program

PMRNA established a StaRN program about a year ago. We are already seeing great results from the program, such as the approximately 80% increase in our membership since April 2010.

A StaRN’s main responsibility is to provide a link between the union officers and the members of the bargaining unit on their respective shifts and units. They provide information to the members about new developments in our Union, including general membership meetings, events and other issues related to our working conditions. They also collect information about member concerns and relay these issues to the PMRNA officers.

StaRNs can become Association representatives on their unit after undergoing training in union representation and leadership, which UNAC offers on a regular basis.

The following are our current StaRNs:

Mary Mendoza, RN, ICU
Nicole Erb, RN, 4SW
Mildred Aguirre, RN, 4SW
Vickie Natal, RN, 4SW
Lita Gestoso, RN, 4SW

Members transitioning from StaRN to Association Representative:

Jacqueline Friedrich, RN, SSU
Rita Ihenacho, RN, 4SW

We congratulate these members for completing their training and look forward to more members taking an active role in our Union.

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New Treasurer & Nominations

We would like to welcome our newly appointed Treasurer, Brenda Jordan, RN. Brenda’s term as Treasurer will run through January 2011.

Nominations are coming up, so watch your mail for notification. The offices open this year are Vice President, Treasurer and Association Representative Coordinator. All positions are 2 year terms.

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PMRNA Hospital Committee Representatives

This is a list of current PMRNA nursing representatives on our hospital committees:

Accident Review/Safety
Susan Lyrla, RN

Parking Committee
Walter Reynolds, RN

Directors Meeting
Deborah Thomas-Hill, RN

Patient Safety
John Currie, RN

Diversity
Karen Wall, RN

Planetree
Deborah Bevard, RN

Education
Jackie Friedrich, RN

Quality Council Meeting
Relda Gilbertson, RN

Environment of Care
John Currie, RN

Space Committee
Louie Rodriguez, RN

Operations Council
Deborah Thomas-Hill, RN

If you are a PMRNA member and would like to serve as a representative on a committee please contact PMRNA at ext. 2799. We are still in need of alternates for all committees.

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PMRNA Affiliate Officers

President

Deborah Thomas Hill, RN

Vice President

John Currie, RN

Treasurer

Brenda Jordan, RN

Secretary

Deborah Bevard, RN

Association Rep Coordinator

Karen Wall, RN

UNAC/UHCP Staff Representative

Minerva Aller-dela Fuente, RN
minerva@unacuhcp.org

Your union officers are available by personal e-mail
or by phone @ ext. 2799 or 2263.