HPAE Local 5089 RNs UMDNJ Labor-Management Update

HPAE Local 5089 RNs UMDNJ Labor-Management Update

Our Labor-Management Committee met with management on Thursday, December 15 to discuss issues that impact our members.
Representing HPAE: Cynthia Mc Dougall, RN, Banita Herndon RN, Elmer Daniels, RN, Albert Abdemur, RN, Philomena, Chinemula, RN, Jeannie Redd, RN, Joy Anderson, RN, Angelita Zoleta, RN, Valerie Zito, RN, Norman Degeneste.
Representing UMDNJ: Theresa Rejrat, CNO, Judy Colorado, Exec: Director, Christine Mc Callion, Director, Rosalina, Manongdo, Director, Jacinta, Ogbonna, Director, Darnell Reamer, Nadine, Couch NM, Maggie, Arriaga, NM.
The agenda was as follows:
I. Follow Up On Old Business
1. NTT/FNN
2. Palm Scanning Policy
3. O.R. X-ray shields and aprons update
4. F-Yellow/OR/PAR/Eblue/HGreen hand off report

II. New Business
1. Patients held too long in L&D
2. L&D Clarity on New Visitation Rules and Notification
3. Bed Management after 11:00PM
4. Workplace Violence
5. SW students working unsupervised

I. Follow Up On Old Business
1. NTT/FNN – Need copies of signed agreement (deferred to a side meeting).
2. Issue: Palm Scanning Policy. Report from Subgroup: The Hand Reader pilot is not fully implemented. The Emergency Department, Operating Room, Medical Records and Radiology Department are currently piloting the Palm scanner attendance record. Committee task members will resume meetings to re-address the implementation and use of a scanner verses time and attendance sign in forms.
3. Issue: O.R. x – ray shields and aprons update. Resolution: The Local Executive Board and OR staff will schedule a meeting with OR leadership to discuss replacement of Personal Protective Equipment for OR. It was further discussed that nursing administration has the obligation to ensure the safety of all employees & the delays in addressing this are unacceptable. Judy Colorado and Banita Herndon, RN will work to schedule OR meeting. Albert Abdemur will attend as Peri-op rep & H&S co -chair There is a new Director for Peri – Op Services: Phyllis, Lipstack.
4. Issue: F–Yellow/OR/PAR/Eblue/HGreen hand off report. (Angelita Zoleta, RN, presenter) Patients arrive to the units and are transferred to a bed without report between the nurses. Resolution: Face-to-Face communication will be a JACHO practice at UH. Angelita suggested the use of Introduction Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (ISBAR) form which will be faxed to unit prior to transfer. PAR to call unit 15min. prior to fax If fax equipment inoperable, plan B to revert to verbal report. The goal is to reduce delays, length of stay, and backlog in OR/PAR. Receiving nurse to review orders for medication needs as well as what equipment will be needed. Angela also suggested eliminating flow sheets at bedside, as this is a duplication of documentation. Philomena Chinemula, RN mentioned that in a previous L-M meeting we had discussed that there would be a window break to delay transfers during shift change (i.e. 6:30 A/PM – 7:30 A/PM). Management to reconsider this matter. Nadine to discuss with Carolyn Windsor to assure that there are adequate unit clerks on all units to receive ISBAR fax and inform RN as well as obtain needed equipment. Weekends and after 11:00PM remain an issue and management will work on this process within the next 2 weeks. Nadine Couch and Maggie Arriaga to develop Policy and make certain that policy are distributed to all units involved. Angela questioned PCEA on paper versus electronically.
II. New Business
1. Issue: Patients are held in L & D for many hours prior to MD decision to admit and are then unavailable for orders. Resolution: Jacinta states to call the attending for orders and follow up. Teresa R. states that there will be brief study to track these trends to identify MD who practice no return pages (approx. three months).
2. Issue: L & D Clarity on New Visitation Rules and Notification. Resolution: With the new H1N1 regulations visitors under age 18 and visitors with signs/symptoms of the flu will not be able to visit, but some will have to be evaluated on case-by-case basis. HPAE agrees and strongly suggests info be distributed among all UH staff.
3. Issue: Bed Management after 11:00PM. No ward clerks increasing RN workload. Resolution: Not resolved.
4. Issue: Work Place Violence. Joy Anderson, RN, presented a study that UH participated from 2006 – 2009, that showed management was more concerned with UH image rather than patient/nurse safety. Joy indicated that nurses are being verbally assaulted by patients & their families. Resolution: Jacinta suggests that staff contact Public Safety immediately to avoid any escalation on the unit. A new crisis response team has been formed to deal with aggressive patients. Nurses are to call PCC to deal with difficult visitors. There is a workplace violence taskforce that meets monthly & Albert will attend regularly as HPAE rep. Philomena related that a paraplegic patient was throwing bodily fluids at staff and that behavior was not addressed until M.D. and management were accosted by patient. This incident leaves nurses feeling unsupported by nursing leadership. Judy Colorado agreed to more support as well as training. The manager of G-Yellow is willing to do de-escalation training for staff. UH to offer education about gang members/patients for staff affected by these issues.
5. Issue: SW students working unsupervised. Resolution: Deferred to invite Donna Filacomo, manager & SW/Nancy Bedell Director).