Unionization In Nursing Essay

Unionization is good for the nursing profession because it gives power and strength to nurses who can negotiate contracts in numbers and can identify working conditions, including acceptable nurse-to-patient ratios, standard of care, and overtime, pay scale, benefits, and paid time off. According to Sanders and McCutcheon (####), a major issue in the negotiations is the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. In 1999 California became the first state to mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals (Coffman, Seago, Spetz, 2002). Nurses believed in acceptable nurse-to-patient ratios and wanted to prevent jeopardizing quality patient care and prevent nurses from leaving the profession. The healthcare facilities and the union have managed to work together to reach compromises (Sanders and McCutcheon, ####).
Besides improving wages, hours, and benefits, the union promise to improve the number one concern for all nurses which is patient care (Sanders and McCutcheon, ####). Patient care can be related to nurses’ working conditions, which can influence their job performance and eventually affect the quality of care. Unions gives nurses a stronger voice in their organization, which allows them to fight for what they believe in, the better good for the patients.
3. I don’t want to join …show more content…
There are also limitation in the private sector of healthcare, workers may strike, but must provide notice to the other party of its intent to modify or terminate the contract within 60 days before its expiration date, must give the employer at least 10 day notice of its intent to strike, etc. (Sanders and McCutcheon, ####). In regards to participation in strikes, you will have to check with your union discipline guidelines. Under contract, many unions have the power to discipline their members are found working when there is a