NJNU has met with KMC/SBBH on both April 3, 2007 and April 4, 2007 for another bargaining session. The following issues were discussed:
Staffing:§ NJNU has requested a real staffing committee be implemented which would focus primarily on the staffing issues that plague our facility. This committee would help management develop a real acuity system as well as address the issue of recruitment and retention of staff. We have also requested that they increase their staff by hiring more nurses into their float pool and hiring per diems for all shifts.
§ Management’s response to our request is the Nurse Practice Council, despite the fact that they have no idea who is on the Council or what they have implemented since their inception other than the Rapid Admit Team. This issue is still pending.
Work Assignments:
§ NJNU has requested to modify the pull divisions so that nurses would be able to function on those units that are within their level of competencies. We have also suggested that they implement a Critical Care and Maternal Child Float Pool to lessen the burden for our members.
§ Management has responded that they would be willing to provide our members in the Med/Surg units with telemetry certification. However, they are not willing to commit to not pulling nurses outside of their level of competency. This issue is still pending.
On-Call
§ NJNU has proposed language that would clarify exactly when a nurse should be considered “called in”. We have also requested that management explain their on-call compensation policy as well as the reasons for the discrepancies amongst the various units.
§ Management seems somewhat confused as to what is their policy concerning on-call. They did not offer an explanation for the discrepancy amongst the units. They have conceded the fact that they have just recently changed their policy but did not offer an explanation as to why. This issue is still pending.
The next bargaining date is scheduled for Tuesday, April 10, 2007.