By Michael D'Intinosanto RN
Chair, Congress on Health Policy and Legislation

Coming out in force to protest unsafe staffing, over 400 nurses and nursing students packed the Great Hall at the State House Thursday, March 8 for MNA's nurse lobby day. The turnout represents the largest ever for this annual event.

And the message was not lost on the legislators. The vast majority of legislators who attended, pledged support for passage of safe staffing legislation. (See Page 9 for a listing of legislators in attendance.) They were keenly aware of recent reports of patient deaths due to emergency room diversions, the Institute of Medicine report on medical errors, the loss of nurses to retirement, and leaving the profession because of deplorable working conditions. They also heard loud and clear that nurses were tired of the increasing, inappropriate use of mandatory overtime caused by unsafe staffing levels.

Sandy Ellis, RN, member of the Congress on Health Policy and Legislation and member of the St. Vincent Hospital negotiating team, told of the fight St. Vincent nurses waged against for-profit Tenet Healthcare last year. She described their fight against unnecessary use of mandatory overtime, which could be attributed to unsafe staffing levels, and their efforts to include safe staffing language in their contract. Her message was simple: nurses shouldn't have to go out on strike to achieve working conditions every nurse and every patient in the Commonwealth deserves as a basic standard of care.

Lead sponsor of MNA's safe staffing legislation, Rep. Christine Canavan RN, of Brockton, pledged to continue to fight hard for passage of our legislation, which is now in it's sixth year. Her co-sponsor is Sen. Robert Creedon also of Brockton.

Other bills heard this day which directly relate to unsafe staffing, were bills filed to address the nurse shortage and workplace violence. During the spring and summer of 2000, the MNA Congress on Health Policy and Legislation convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Legislation to establish the 2001-2002 legislative agenda. (See February 2001 Mass. Nurse for full list of bills.) Meanwhile, the MNA Safe Care Steering Committee convened a task force to address the nurse shortage. At the same time, the legislature was holding hearings on the nursing workforce across the state.

Senator Richard Moore, who served on the nursing commission, prepared to file legislation to fund solutions to the nurse shortage. Ideas being generated by the MNA Blue Ribbon Commission and the Nurse Shortage Task Force were similar to those being proposed by Senator Moore. We were proud to have been able to work with him to include our ideas in his package. The result of this partnership is the Clara Barton Act, a comprehensive package of scholarships, tuition forgiveness programs, and bonuses for experienced nurses who mentor new graduates. A week after lobby day, MNA President Denise Garlick, along with other MNA members, testified at hearings on those bills before the Joint Committee on Education.

Leslie Sullivan, chair of MNA's Workplace Violence Task Force, convened by our Cabinet on Labor Relations, presented compelling testimony about the need for workplace violence prevention legislation. She told of co-workers who were assaulted as a result of unsafe staffing levels. She also told of the injustices imposed by the criminal justice system on nurses who file charges. Her message resounded throughout the house. Workplace violence is not a part of the job. It is not to be expected and it is not acceptable.

The legislation filed this year calls for all healthcare facilities to institute a workplace violence prevention program. Included in this program is an assaulted staff action program (ASAP), which will provide immediate medical and psychological care to staff who have been assaulted. Finally it seeks to compensate, through an early retirement incentive, those healthcare professionals who work with violent populations in the Commonwealth.

Charlie Stefanini, MNA director of legislation and government affairs, gave a presentation on the legislative process in Massachusetts and reviewed the remainder of MNA's legislative agenda. Vice President Margaret O'Malley gave a great presentation on the grassroots efforts undertaken by MNA members last year to support Question 5. She discussed MNA's continued support of the Mass. Healthcare Trust legislation, which seeks fundamental reform of the health care system and the establishment of a universal, single payer system.

After the formal presentations were completed, a large number of nurses and students could be seen going to meet with their own representative and senator to discuss their own personal stories of unsafe staffing where they work. Nurses and students who had never lobbied before, actively sought out congress members, MNA staff and other MNA members to help them prepare for meeting with their representative or senator.

Our work has just begun. There is much to be done to make safe staffing a reality. But, judging from the excitement in the state house this day, it shouldn't be hard to keep the energy level at a high pitch. A little work by many will go much further than much work by a few.

The MNA Congress on Health Policy and Legislation and the Department of Legislation and Government Affairs is beginning work on an outreach program to the districts and local units. Our intent is to keep giving the legislature a steady flow of messages showing the need for safe staffing legislation from their local constituents. It is the real-life personal stories that legislators want and need to hear. Please contact Charlie Stefanini or Martha Campbell if you are interested in arranging a local legislative reception. Your few minutes effort to share your personal experiences with your legislators, goes a long way to securing their support.

We are also looking for an enthusiastic turn out of nurses to match that of lobby day when our safe staffing legislation is heard.

The seed is planted. Together we can help it grow. Through our commitment and constant care, we can help it reach maturity. Do this for the future of nursing and all our patients who rely on us.