Winter 2015
Presidential Address
page 2
Executive Editorial
page 3
Nurses Share Concerns
about Achieving Quality
Patient Outcomes
page 4
The Official Publication of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)
Infusion Therapy Nurse
– Leader and Advocate
page 5
Continuing to Work
to Support our
Nurse Practitioners
page 6
Sacred Heart
Nurses’ Campaign
page 7
2015 Oregon
Legislative Agenda
pages 8-9
2015 Nurses’
Code of Ethics
page 9
The Modern School
Nurse page 10
Blood Drive Safety
page 11
Advocate Profiles
pages 12 - 13
2015 Candidates
and Biographies
for ONA
Open Positions
pages 14-17
Nurse Lobby Day
page 18
Vital Statistics
page 19
Nurse
Advocacy
2015
Presidential Address
A message from ONA’s Board President, Kathleen Cooper, BSN, RN, CCRN
My Greatest Gift
I am a nurse. It is my passion.
As hard as it may be to work
12 hour shifts with long stretches, or
to entirely miss my meals and breaks,
I still love my job. I want to make it
possible to continue in this profession
as long as possible and I want to help
others do the same.
T
he New Year is past, and
it is a time for renewal. As
we move into 2015, I am taking
a look back at the past year,
pondering my accomplishments
and failures. This helps me to
make a personal strategic plan
and set goals for the coming
year. While the process might
sound formal, I also have a birthday at the beginning
of the year. Adding a higher digit to my age always
shakes me up a bit more than just rolling to the next
new calendar.
This year begins my first calendar year as ONA
president and I’ve added that aspect to my personal
goals. I’ve already found this new and exciting adventure
very rewarding.
As president, I have taken a more global approach to my
patient advocacy and for the first time, will participate in
ONA’s Nurse Lobby Day at the Oregon State Legislature.
Our focus will be passing improvements to Oregon’s
staffing law and advocating for better patient care.
As nurses, we often find it difficult to advocate for our
own needs. Yet, it is necessary for us to take an active
role in patient advocacy-related initiatives. Creating
improved patient outcomes by advancing nurses’ working
conditions ultimately will lead to improved and safer patient
care – care which results in a better patient experience.
Staffing also needs to be adjusted to meet the needs of
our aging nursing population, and it needs to maintain
the health of our newest professionals. Our involvement
in these staffing decisions can bring about changes
necessary to strengthen our profession. That’s why our
work to advocate for Oregon’s nurse staffing law this
year, is so critical. I look forward to seeing my
colleagues join me in my efforts.
Did I mention getting older? Yes, it is true. With every
new ache and pain, I am reminded that retirement age is
approaching. I wonder when I should add that to a plan.
A few years ago I had a serious health crisis that forced
me into an eight-month disability. During that time, I saw
my career flash before my eyes, which helped me to
better understand why I still do what I do. I am a nurse.
It is my passion. As hard as it may be to work 12 hour
2
shifts with long stretches, or to entirely miss my meals
and breaks, I still love my job. I want to make it possible
to continue in this profession as long as possible, and I
want to help others do the same.
W
hen my patient tells me how much they appreciate
my care – that they hope I am coming back the
next day to take care of them again, their words are a
gift to me. I go home exhausted and refreshed all at
the same time.
I am fortunate that this happens often in my practice –
indeed, it happened with two patients during the holidays.
Each touched my heart. A woman patient needing
surgery was having a problem with excessive bleeding
and wanted to hug me before I left. She couldn’t, lest the
bleeding worsen, so I put my arms around her instead as
we said our farewell. Another patient, had a tracheostomy
and could not speak. He struggled to make some sound
as he mouthed the words that he hoped I would be back
the next day. During my shift he had counted the hours
so he knew how much longer he would have me there.
I reassured him that I would make sure his next nurse
knew what we had been working on together so he
could have continuity.
I have never been one who pursued accolades from
my employers or colleagues, and have always felt my
reward was in a job well-done. The ultimate measure of
my worth has always been the response of my patients
to my care. When a patient or their family members
thank me, although appreciated, it can simply reflect their
graciousness but, when they tell me that they hope I come
back, I know I have made a real connection to their hearts.
M
any of my patients face life-and-death decisions or
sometimes they are simply facing death. To know
they want me by their side at that time in their lives, is
truly my greatest gift.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Executive Editorial
A message from ONA’s Executive Director, Susan King, RN, MS, CEN, FAAN
Words and Deeds: Advocacy
and Our Code of Ethics
H
ow many times have
we all heard “actions
speak louder than
words?” In reading the
just-released revision of
the ANA Code of Ethics
for Nurses (Code), I am
reminded of the principles
that should tie nursing professionals together. They are
also important and needed principles that should be
applied across the health care delivery system. In my
view, the most critical of the 10 provisions are numbers
two and three which state:
Provision 2
The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient,
whether an individual, family, group, community or
population.
Provision 3
The nurse promotes, advocates for and protects the
rights, health and safety of the patient.
Whether your practice is in the clinical setting or as a
member of the ONA staff, the Code is the underpinning
of our work. In fact, some health care facilities post it on
nursing units. ONA staff orientation starts with a review of
the Code for nurse staff members and an introduction for
those who are not.
K
eeping those words in mind, I would like to examine
some of the current work of ONA or in short – our
deeds. Our priority for the next five months or so is to
improve our hospital staffing legislation. The legislature
will be asked to approve language supporting adequate
staffing in our 51 hospitals statewide and ensure stronger
enforcement when the law is violated. Why is this a
priority? It may seem obvious from experience and
thousands of cases in the data. Staffing matters for the
safety of our patients and the quality of care they receive.
Staffing also is critical to the “ethical environment of
the work setting and conditions of employment that are
conducive to safe, quality health care” which is also
in provision six of the Code. Why then, do we expect
opposition from hospital administrators and nurses in
leadership positions to our reasonable proposals to
strengthen what is in the best interests of our patients?
3
Those same administrative staff continue to verbalize their
commitment to safety and high quality care.
C
are to patients is increasingly provided with the aid
of a variety of technologies from automatic blood
pressure cuffs – to electronic prompting of interventions
– to IV pumps. And the possibilities for the future seem
endless. Technology is asserted as a way to assist
mortals in remembering to do something or alternately,
to limit our ability to do something such as give an IV
drug at the wrong rate or wrong dose. Thousands of
dollars are spent on devices that are supposedly going
to increase the safety of our care to patients. Yet,
decisions about which device will be purchased are made
through processes that aren’t clear, processes that don’t
necessarily involve or depend on the clinicians who will
utilize the device and devices that often require “work
arounds” that increase the likelihood that an error will be
made. The words of the institution invariably focus on the
quality of care their clinicians provide yet the deeds of
those who have decision making authority don’t seem to fit.
I
n our role as a labor organization, we are obligated by
law to provide our members with due process.
On occasion, the members we represent have engaged
in behavior that is inconsistent with the standards of
nursing and the Code and, at times, our defense has
been questioned as condoning the behavior in question.
Much like our court system, the opportunity to have all of
the facts made known, to offer a defense and to have an
impartial judge of the situation through the grievance and
arbitration process, is our method of protecting rights to
fairness. Through this process, ONA as an organization
is acting consistent with the Code as well. A safe practice
environment protects individual nurses from accusations
which may turn out to be false. Left unchecked, tactics
of accusation and consequences without representation
would obviously contribute to an environment not
supportive of the professionals responsible for delivering
care. Ultimately, it is the patients whose care is at risk
from a hostile environment.
In my view, the Code of Ethics for Nurses is the most
important yardstick by which we measure our work as
professionals – and ONA’s work as an organization.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Nurses Share Concerns about Achieving
Quality Patient Outcomes –
Research Supports Evidence Based Standards in Oregon’s
Nurse Staffing Law
Director of Professional Services
Carl Brown, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN
There are those
who ask why the
current Oregon
Nurse Staffing
Law needs to be strengthened,
that in their opinion there aren’t any
issues with the current law. These
comments generally come from those
Chief Nursing Officers (CNO) or other
nurses in management positions who
think that mandatory overtime and
working short-staffed is acceptable.
I had an interesting conversation with
a CNO in which we were discussing
why one of her operating room
(OR) nurses was required to work a
mandatory 27 hour shift. The CNO
informed me that they, “… try not
to do that very often.” I then asked
the CNO if she would be okay with
allowing one of her loved ones to be
cared for by an OR nurse who was at
the end of a 27 hour shift – I got no
reply. This is a prime example of why
Oregon’s Nurse Staffing Law needs
to be strengthened. It depicts the dire
need for protection from mandatory
overtime for the both sake of nurses
and the patients under their care.
Proposed changes to the law would
require nurses to work only one 12
hour shift before taking a mandatory
10 hours of rest time.
As another example, a nurse filed
a staffing complaint in December,
4
2013, with the Health Care Regulation
and Quality Improvement (HCRQI)
program of the Oregon Health
Authority. Sadly it took over 13
months for HCRQI to even begin an
investigation of that complaint.
unit so that patients and others could
review those ratios. Interestingly,
some hospital administrators and
nurse administrators are opposed
to making hospital ratios available
to the public.
Frankly, the HCRQI is neither built
financially nor equipped personnelwise to handle the level of complaints
that are occurring along with the
regular inspections they must conduct
annually. Proposed changes to the
new Nurse Staffing Law would provide
more structure and support, along
with specific guidelines on the timeline
of how quickly HCRQI must conduct
an inspection (within 60 days) after a
complaint has been made.
There are some in nursing
administration who would like us
all to believe that nurse staffing is
getting better and that staff nurses
are not interested in strengthening
the current staffing law. This is not
the case.
The public has become very
interested in how hospitals perform
on quality measures like patient falls,
readmissions and infection rates.
I recently had a discussion with a
member of the public who was looking
for a hospital in which her mother
would have a hip replacement. She
was interested in finding a hospital
that reported its nurse staffing levels,
as she understood the connection
of better staffing and quality patient
outcomes.
The new staffing law proposal would
require hospitals to post current nurseto-patient ratios for each hospital
In ONA’s 2014 Member Survey (of
which approximately 1,200 nurses
participated), 38 percent noted that
in the past five years, nurse staffing
had gotten worse. Well over 60
percent noted that staffing in acute
care settings was the primary area
they wanted ONA to work upon on
their behalf.
Daily, we hear stories from some
of our members about how bad
nurse staffing has become and
that something needs to be done
to strengthen the current law.
ONA believes the main reason for
strengthening the current nurse
staffing law is because it is the
work our members are asking us
to accomplish. And, when our
12,000 members speak, we listen!
Oregon Nurse - Summer 2014
Infusion Therapy Nurse
a Leader and Advocate
throughout her Long Career
Profile:
Maryann Dutton, RN, BSN
Maryann Dutton
knew she wanted
to be a nurse from
the sixth grade.
To meet her goal,
Dutton saved
the wages she made working at her
father’s vegetable stand at Yamhill
Marketplace and didn’t stop until she
moved into her dorm room, next door
to St. Vincent Hospital, Portland.
Next, Dutton entered St. Vincent’s
nursing school and began working at
the hospital while earning her degree
on the five-year plan.
Almost five decades after graduating
in the University of Portland’s
first class of nurses, Dutton is still
advocating for her nurse colleagues
and the patients they serve.
“Every place I’ve been, I’ve been a
part of leadership,” Dutton replied
when asked about her advocacy work.
“I’ve always felt if you don’t get
involved, things don’t get done. If
I want to get other RNs involved, I
have to be an example myself.
Dutton has been that example in
many towns and countries throughout
the Pacific Rim. After marrying her
childhood sweetheart, she followed
Bob to Japan and began a new
chapter, as the wife of an active Air
Force radio operator. In tours of
Okinawa and the Philippines, Dutton
contributed primarily by volunteering
as a nurse – helping in schools with
immunizations, vision and hearing
testing. In 1964, during a stint in
5
“I have always maintained nursing is where it is
today as far as pay and benefits
because of negotiations with the labor unions
representing nurses, particularly in Oregon
and Washington. Those hospitals not part of
ONA, look to what we do and follow suit
as to wages and benefits.
Texas, she began her first “real
nursing job, as a medical/surgical
charge nurse at St. John’s hospital
in San Angelo. Dutton smiled wryly
– “I made $2.00 per hour as evening
charge nurse of two units. I was the
only RN. I had an LPN, who gave
meds and one nurse’s aid. Medical
benefits were not included.”
Charge nurse positions in Nebraska
Alaska and Washington followed.
“I always returned to work at St.
Vincent in their intravenous therapy
(IV) unit when in Portland, even for
just a couple of months. I valued and
respected their philosophy. It was like
coming back home. I never had
a problem being hired back on – I
felt respected and valued for my work,
which evolved over the years.
When I worked as a student, there
were no IV antibiotics. All IVs were
started with steel needles. Most were
given to surgical patients and IVs ran
for approximately two hours before
we removed the needle – unlike now
where we leave needles in place for
three days.
Dutton returned to Providence St.
Vincent’s IV team as evening charge
nurse permanently three years after
Bob retired. She worked full time 36
years before retiring, summer 2014.
“I have always maintained nursing
is where it is today, as far as pay and
benefits, because of negotiations with
the unions representing nurses –
particularly in Oregon and Washington.
Those hospitals, not part of ONA, look
to what we do and follow suit as to
wages and benefits.
Over the years, I’ve probably been
involved in every committee St.
Vincent ever had. We needed a
treasurer on our bargaining unit
executive committee, so I took over
the role. And, I’ve been involved in
our contract negotiations for a very
long time.
The negotiation process can be
long and difficult, because issues
have to do with the budget. It can be
very hard at times – very maddening
and frustrating. When I first started
negotiations, I didn’t want to speak
up for fear of saying the wrong thing.
Now it doesn’t bother me – it has to
be said.”
In January 2014, the Infusion Nurses
of Oregon paid special tribute
to Maryann Dutton for her skill,
passion, wisdom and dedication
to the practice of vascular access,
infusion therapy. They especially
recognized the admirable manner in
which she has cared and advocated
for her IV patients. Said President
Tara Rutledge, “Maryann’s passion
and commitment to the specialty of
infusion nursing continually inspires
me to be a better nurse. She’s always
the one people call when a difficult
line needs to be placed.”
Ever humble, Dutton replied “I’ve
always been supportive of my nurse
colleagues, my patients and my
profession. If you get involved, things
get done.”
Oregon Nurse - Summer 2014
Continuing our Work to Support
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners of Oregon
Chairman JC Provost, APRN, DNP, FNP
T
th
NPO is working with our colleagues on the Oregon
Council of Clinical Nurse Specials to address proposals
being made by the Oregon State Board of Nursing
(OSBN) staff regarding our prescriptive authority and
potential titling. Board staff had proposed some new
requirements for controlled substance prescribing which
drew strong concern from many NPs and CNSs. Both
groups and ONA recommended that the board defer
adoption of these requirement pending a discussion with
other health profession licensing boards. The concern
was that new requirements for NPs and CNSs would
create uneven practice conditions and potentially limit
care. We understand that the board staff has met with
licensing boards and are awaiting a report.
he issue of using the term “APRN” meaning advanced
practice RN in Division 56 has raised serious concerns
for NPO. While this term is commonly used and is found
in the national consensus document, Oregon has, until
now, not chosen to use it as a substitute or category
which includes NPs, CNSs and CRNAs. The OSBN
members voted to incorporate this term in the
Administrative Rules Chapter 56 as a way to describe
the three types of providers who are considered “APRNs.”
Board members were assured that the term will not be
proposed as a substitute for the credential by which the
6
advanced practice RN in Division 56 has raised
serious concerns for NPO. While this term is
he 37 annual NPO education
conference was held in Portland
and offered a variety of topics for
NPs of all specialties. Keynoting
was Margaret Fitzgerald. A special
presentation by Barbara Safriet, JD,
was particularly notable. In her
comments on barriers to NP practice,
Safriet offered editorial opinion on the wisdom and
“goofiness” of some current policies at both state and
federal level. Safriet is known to many long-time NPs
as one of our early consultants and supporters as we
began our work on independent practice and prescriptive
authority in the 1970’s. The conference was not only
informative but financially very successful due to strong
attendance, support from NPO members and ONA staff.
Next year the 38th October event will be held in Sunriver.
T
The issue of using the term “APRN” meaning
commonly used and found in the national
consensus document, Oregon has, until now, not
chosen to use it as a substitute or category
which includes NPs, CNSs and CRNAs.
legal and professional certification is held. However, as
this term is now proposed in other chapters of the rules,
NPO remains concerned about public confusion and legal
authority that is tied to specific titles. Further discussion
will occur in our Professional Standards Committee chaired
by James Sims.
Our Independent Practice and Business Owners
Committee, chaired by Shelda Holmes is exploring services
to support our members who own small businesses. Among
those services are a consulting fund, our own “Angie’s”
list of vendors and an educational program focused on
business practices and reimbursement issues.
F
inally, each year the American Association of Nurse
Practitioners (AANP) makes awards for those NPs
who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and clinical
practice as well as those who support the work that we do.
Meg Portwood, long time small business owner in Lincoln
City, Oregon, is the recipient of the 2015 AANP Nurse
Practitioner State Award for Excellence. Meg has been
a primary care provider in the coastal city for many years
and often remarks that she is now caring for grown children
of some of her first patients. Meg has been active on many
state advisory groups and brings the rural small practice
perspective to her advocacy. She also has helped to guide
the annual conference ensuring that the quality of the
education remains strong.
Brian Delashmutt, long time ONA Lobbyist who retired in
2013 was named as the NP advocate for his many years
of support and achievement for NPs in Oregon. Brian
started his lobbying career with ONA in 1979 and was
responsible for many achievements including prescriptive
authority, hospital admitting privileges, payment parity and
workers compensation participation. Congratulations to
both of our long time leaders.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Sacred Heart Nurses and Hospitalists
Go Public with Staffing Concerns
Lydia Hallay, ONA Staff
I
n November 2014, nurses and hospitalists working at
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene and
Springfield launched a campaign to bring their longstanding
concerns about staffing to the community through Sacred
Heart Caregivers United, an Oregon Nurses Association
(ONA) coordinated effort aimed at putting public pressure on
PeaceHealth administration. The campaign is just one way
nurses and hospitalists have utilized their collective power to
advocate for patients beyond the bedside.
The decision to go public with concerns about staffing
wasn’t taken lightly by nurses or hospitalists, who often go
to great pains to ensure that their patients are never aware
of the problems behind the scenes. For Tore’ Murvin, a night
shift RN on the general medical unit, the decision to speak
out didn’t come easily. “There is a culture of silence
in nursing. The last thing I want, is to alarm the public that
their loved ones are in a potentially unsafe situation
because of staffing issues.”
Sacred Heart Medical Center, which made a record
$43.5 million in profits during 2013, is on track to be the
most profitable health care facility in Oregon for 2014
(based on first and second quarter reporting to state
agencies.) Meanwhile, the facility has led the state,
four years in a row, in incidents of insufficient staffing
as documented by caregivers in Staffing Request and
Documentation Forms (SRDFs).
Murvin, who has been employed at Sacred Heart for
10 years, said things at the facility used to be different.
“I remember the days when the Sisters were involved in
the day-to-day workings of the organization. I was proud
and excited to be a part of Sacred Heart.” Since then,
she said, she’s witnessed changes that have moved the
7
The decision to go
public with concerns
about staffing wasn’t
taken lightly by nurses or
hospitalists, who often
go to great pains
to ensure that their
patients are never aware
of the problems
behind the scenes.
organization away from the Sister’s original mission.
“There has been a revolving door of administrators.
The majority of nurses I work with feel a disconnect
between upper management and the reality at
the bedside.”
Historically, nurses and hospitalists at Sacred Heart
have focused on resolving their disagreements
with administration more privately – through labor
management, staffing committees, collective bargaining
and so forth. However, after more than two years of
frustrating efforts at the facility to address staffing
concerns internally, including over 200 hours of contract
negotiations between nurses and administration focused
primarily on improving staffing, and a successful effort
by hospitalists to unionize, caregivers decided that a
less conventional approach was necessary to draw
attention to the issue.
The campaign launched Thanksgiving week 2014 with
paid advertisements in three local papers, a Facebook
page and a new web site, SacredHeartNurses.org.
The launch garnered a flurry of media coverage,
including stories on the local National Public Radio
affiliate (KLCC), articles in newspapers, Eugene Weekly,
Register-Guard and Northwest Labor Press, and a
supportive editorial by the Register-Guard’s editorial
board. Meanwhile, a public petition has been circulating
in support of improved staffing at Sacred Heart and lawn
signs supporting the campaign are beginning to sprout
up around the community.
As momentum continues to build, PeaceHealth nurses
from Washington and Alaska have also gotten involved,
continued on page 10
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
ONA’s 2015 Legislative Agenda
Nurse Staffing Tops Nurses’ List of Priorities
Director of Health Policy and Government
Relations, ONA Sarah Baessler, BA, BS
While hospital nurse staffing is ONA’s
top priority this session, nurses in other
R
epublicans made national news
this fall by winning back Congress,
but in Oregon Democrats increased
their majorities in both the State
House of Representatives and the
State Senate, bringing a progressive
agenda to the table for Oregon’s 78th
Legislative Assembly. Issues that
impact working families and the middle class, like paid
sick days, rising costs of child care and college education,
raising the minimum wage and K-12 education funding
are likely to dominate headlines throughout the legislative
session.
ONA’s Cabinet on Health Policy has developed a focused
legislative agenda for nurses in 2015, centered on
hospital nurse staffing.
ONA’s leadership on hospital nurse staffing should come
as no surprise. ONA members helped pass the Oregon’s
first nurse staffing law in 2001 and nurses led efforts to
update the law in 2005. ONA’s House of Delegates voted
to study improvements to Oregon’s Nurse Staffing Law in
2012 and unanimously approved a framework for changes
to the law in 2014.
T
hose changes are the basis for ONA’s 2015 Nurse
Staffing Bill, Senate Bill 469. The bill builds on
Oregon’s current collaborative staffing committee
structure, while also empowering direct-care nurses on
staffing committees, enhancing transparency, increasing
hospital’s accountability and improving state enforcement.
These changes are necessary to improve patient care as
well as nurse retention.
Click here to view a summary of changes in ONA’s
Nurse Staffing Bill.
Click here to view the full text of the bill.
While hospital nurse staffing is ONA’s top priority this
session, nurses in other settings are also facing staffing
challenges ONA hopes to resolve.
settings are also facing staffing
challenges that ONA hopes to resolve.
N
urses working in Oregon’s American Red Cross
chapter have consistently faced cuts as blood supply
corporations attempt to eliminate nurses and other
health care professionals from blood drives. Nurses
play a crucial role on blood drives; ensuring donor
safety and protecting the safety of the blood supply.
In 2015, ONA will introduce a bill requiring blood
donation companies to have a nurse, or other licensed
health care professional, available at every blood drive
to ensure donor safety.
S
chool nurses are another group struggling with
staffing issues. In 2009, the Oregon Legislature
recommended the state reach a ratio of one school
nurse for every 750 students by 2020. Current estimates
show Oregon has only one school nurse for every 4,054
students, with no plan in place to meet the Legislature’s
recommendation. In partnership with the Oregon
School Nurses Association, ONA is introducing a bill to
establish a state task force to study ways to meet the
recommended school nurse-to-student ratio and create
a full-time State School Nursing Consultant position to
provide comprehensive leadership and guidance on
school health issues.
During session, ONA will also continue its work on public
health issues, like expanding paid sick days to all working
Oregonians. In the last year, workers in Portland and
Eugene have benefited from local laws that allow them to
earn paid sick time. Workers without this option are 1.5
times more likely to go to work with a contagious illness
and are more likely to send their children to school sick.
A statewide earned sick days policy will prevent workers
from losing wages or employment when they get sick and
give working parents the ability to stay home and care for
a sick child.
continued on page 9
8
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
ONA’s 2015 Legislative Agenda continued from page 5
A
dditional ONA priorities this
session include economic
fairness issues such as increasing
retirement security for Oregon’s
families, raising the minimum wage
for workers, clarifying insurers’
reimbursement requirements for
nurse practitioners under Oregon’s
Nurse Practitioner Payment Parity
Law, preserving important provider
incentives for nurses in rural and
underserved areas and ensuring
nursing programs have adequate
funds to develop our future
nursing workforce.
Click here to view ONA’s 2015
Legislative Agenda.
If these issues are important to you,
I invite you to attend ONA’s Nurse
Lobby Day in Salem Feb.10. Nurse
Lobby Day gives you a chance to
meet with your State Senators and
Representatives, share your stories,
and advocate for the nursing and
health care changes you want to
see in your workplace.
ONA’s 2015 Nurse Lobby Day
will take place in Salem from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb.10.
Lobby Day is free to attend
and participating nurses can
earn up to four free continuing
nursing education contact hours.
Please contact Kevin at mealy@
OregonRN.org for help registering as
an ONA member, student affiliate or
an ONA guest.
This program is approved by Oregon
Nurses Association, CEARP #
301.01.2015 for four contact hours.
ONA is an accredited provider approved
by Cal BRN, Provider #15089.
Sign up today on ONA’s website
Registration closes Feb.5.
2015 Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive
Statements – Revised Statements Reflect Current Nursing Practices
Provision 1 |
Provision 6 |
The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the
inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.
The nurse, through individual and collective effort, establishes,
maintains, and improves the ethical environment of the work
setting and conditions of employment that are conducive to safe,
quality health care.
Provision 2 |
The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an
individual, family, group, community, or population.
Provision 3 |
The nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights,
health, and safety of the patient.
Provision 4 |
The nurse has authority, accountability, and responsibility for
nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent
with the obligation to promote health and to provide optimal care.
Provision 5 |
The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including
the responsibility to promote health and safety, preserve
wholeness of character and integrity, maintain competence,
and continue personal and professional growth.
9
Provision 7 |
The nurse, in all roles and settings, advances the profession
through research and scholarly inquiry, professional standards
development, and the generation of both nursing and health policy.
Provision 8 |
The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the
public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and
reduce health disparities.
Provision 9 |
The profession of nursing, collectively through its professional
organizations, must articulate nursing values, maintain the
integrity of the profession, and integrate principle.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
The Modern School Nurse
Oregon’s School Nurses Need Legislative Support
as Roles Evolve
Today’s school nurse has a multifaceted
Nina Fekaris, RN, NCSN
School Nurse at Westview High,
Meadow Park, Rock Creek and Terra Nova
Advances in health care and
technology have greatly impacted
the job responsibilities of today’s
school nurse. Carbohydrate counting,
high blood glucose corrections, capillary blood glucose
monitoring and pumps are the new norm when a school
nurse manages a student with diabetes. With the advent
of epinephrine auto-injectors and the dramatic increase
in the number of children with life-threatening
anaphylaxis, school nurses are now responsible for
developing school-wide prevention strategies and
emergency response plans for hundreds of students.
Federal and state laws have provided more opportunities
for chronically ill and medically fragile children to attend
school. School nurses in Oregon, who already carry
caseloads that average more than 4,000 students per
school nurse, are now suctioning breathing tubes,
inserting urinary catheters, providing gastrostomy
tube feedings and monitoring ventilators, in addition to
managing the health of the general school population.
Passing Oregon Senate Bill 339 (SB 339, Oregon’s
School Nursing Initiative) is an important step to
role; one that supports the
physical, mental, emotional
and social health of students
and their success in the
learning process.
identifying strategies to address school nurse
caseloads so that the health needs of every student
are met and they are ready to learn.
SB 339 accomplishes two objectives. First, it creates
a School Nurse Consultant position within the Oregon
Health Authority. This position will help coordinate and
support school nurses’ public health role. Second, it
creates a task force to explore and recommend ways
to balance school nursing funding between education
and health care. State legislation passed in 2009
identified a goal of one school nurse for every 750
students by 2020. This task force will help identify
how school districts can reach that goal.
Today’s school nurse has a multifaceted role; one
that supports the physical, mental, emotional and
social health of students and their success in the
learning process. The passage of SB 339 will help
Oregon children by establishing a connection between
education and health and recommending new ways
to support the public health role of school nurses.
Sacred Heart Nurses and Hospitalists Go Public with Staffing Concerns
continued from page 7
and a coordinated effort in support of improved staffing
at sister facilities in three states is underway. Locally, an
increasing number of front-line caregivers have decided
to speak up and lend their voices to the campaign.
Matthew Calzia, a nurse who works 12-hour shifts in the
ICU, has been honing his skills as a public advocate –
being interviewed by reporters from Eugene Weekly
and KLCC radio. Of his decision to speak out, he said,
“I think it’s vital that the community knows what is
happening in the place they may end up in at possibly
the most vulnerable situation of their lives. It’s our ethical
obligation as patient advocates to speak up.”
“I see the amazing work that nurses and my fellow
clinicians do on a daily and hourly basis; I see the
10
pressure they’re under,” said Rajeev Alexander, a
Sacred Heart hospitalist who went on record about
his concerns with the Register-Guard and KLCC
radio. “For the sake of the health of my patients
and for the health of the larger institution, I felt I
had to say something.”
More than two dozen ONA members from Sacred
Heart plan to take their stories to Salem this legislative
cycle as they lobby for improvements to Oregon’s
Nurse Staffing Law. For some nurses, speaking
publicly about the problems they see at the bedside
can feel intimidating. Calzia said, “when you speak
truth, and you have a good union behind you, you
need not be afraid.”
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Blood Donors Deserve Nursing Expertise
Rich Ap, RN
American Red Cross
I
first came to Oregon in 1991 as a
traveling nurse and was instantly
impressed with Oregon’s progressive
public policies as well as the way
those policies helped improve lives.
I was also impressed by Oregon’s public beach access,
recycling standards and sensible land use policies.
Not surprisingly, I soon made a decision to become an
Oregonian. As a transplant to Oregon, I’m extremely
proud of the unique way Oregonians continue to work
towards progress and set national trends. Oregon’s
citizens embrace being unique and are unafraid to think
differently about how to best serve public needs.
As a nurse in the blood supply industry, I’m excited to
see Oregon working to improve standards for donors and
protecting Oregon’s blood supply with the introduction of
House Bill 2541 – ONA’s Blood Drive Safety legislation.
This legislation would require a licensed health care
professional to be present on every blood drive operated
in Oregon. It would make Oregon stand out from the rest
of the states that are moving away from the use of nurses
on blood drives.
In 2013, polling showed that Oregonians favor keeping
nurses on blood drives, by a wide margin. In fact, most
donors are surprised to learn that the number of nurses
on blood drives here in Oregon and across the country
is decreasing.
The national trend, moving away from the use of nurses
on blood drives is happening because of changes in the
blood banking industry. According to officials with the
American Red Cross (ARC), since 2009, distribution
of red blood cell products to hospitals has declined
by 20 percent. Better blood management by doctors,
evidence-based medicine and new innovations have
lowered demand for blood. Non-profits that run blood
banking organizations have become more competitive,
and as a result, are making cuts to budgets, laying off
staff and shifting towards the use of non-licensed
11
Donors who step up to the plate
to give the gift of life deserve
quality nursing care
when it is needed.
personal. In Oregon, we have bucked that trend to
some extent. Nurses represented by ONA have
successfully negotiated to include nurses on blood
drives in the last several contracts. ONA’s contract
with the ARC requires at least one nurse on each
blood drive.
Nurses are essential to blood and blood donor safety.
We assist non-licensed staff with the donor assessment
process. We use our professional experience and skill
to help answer complicated donor acceptability criteria
questions. And we are trained and able to respond to
any unfortunate reactions that may occur during the
blood donation process. Nurses are essential in helping
donors recover safely.
Donors in Oregon trust that they will be cared for.
Significant vasovagal or vasodepressor reactions
(significant lowering of blood pressure) occur in two
to five percent of whole blood donors. Minor reactions
are more common. Pallor, dizziness, sweating,
hyperventilation and nausea are the kinds of symptoms
a nurse should be present to help manage. Oregon must
continue to buck the national trend of eliminating nurses
from blood drives and pass House Bill 2541.
Donors who step up to the plate to give the gift of life
deserve quality nursing care when it is needed.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Advocate Profile: Steve Rooney, RN
S
teve Rooney is President of the
National Federation of Nurses
(NFN) and a former President of
ONA. He practices as an Intensive
Care nurse at St. Charles Medical
Center in Bend.
Here’s what Rooney had to say about nurse staffing and
ONA’s Nurse Lobby Day.
Why is nurse staffing an important issue for you and the
nurses at your hospital?
I
t’s important for our patients. That’s where the staffing
issue starts. Nurses have always known in our hearts
that staffing is important for our patients and now we
have data supporting us. Studies show that appropriate
staffing saves lives, improves patient outcomes and
improves nurse retention. It also keeps nurses healthier,
less prone to injury and less stressed. It’s important
both professionally and personally.
Why is it important for nurses to participate in Lobby Day
to improve staffing?
L
egislators deal with so many issues that it’s difficult for
them to have a nuanced view of staffing. Lobby Day
gives nurses a chance to build a personal relationship
with their legislators and put a face to the issue. It also
gives nurses a chance to explain how staffing affects their
community.
When it’s time to vote on staffing, legislators will have an
understanding of the issue they wouldn’t have had before.
What advice would you offer to other nurses about
getting involved?
T
here’s an Oregon company with the slogan, “Just Do
It.” That’s what nurses need to do. You may not think
you can do it right now, but you can. You may not see the
value right now, but you will. It’s empowering to be part
of a group of nurses working together to make positive
changes. It’s something many other people don’t or won’t
do, but everyone can do it.
Advocate Profile: Rob Campbell, RN
R
ob Campbell is a former paramedic who gravitated
towards work in critical care after graduating from
nursing school. He currently practices as a nurse on
the Endoscopy unit at Rogue Regional Medical Center
in Medford.
Here’s what Campbell had to say about nurse staffing and
ONA’s Nurse Lobby Day.
Why is nurse staffing an important issue for you and the
nurses at your hospital?
I
’m concerned because health care has gone from a
culture of compassion to a culture of production. There
is no time to talk with patients to figure out why they are
here and what we can do to help them get out, and stay
out, of the hospital.
The emphasis is on moving patients through the system.
That system isn’t working and it’s not safe.
Why is it important for nurses to participate in Lobby Day
to improve staffing?
L
12
egislators aren’t nurses. They don’t see what we see.
We mainly see the cross section of society that needs
We all have to balance cost with care,
but nurses are the last bastions of safety
for our patients and we need to advocate
and care for our patients first.
our care. Nurses need to show legislators what it’s like
to walk in the shoes of a patient and tell them how
staffing issues affect the quality of care patients receive.
What advice would you offer to other nurses about
getting involved?
F
ind your particular passion in your work, then take
the opportunity to learn about your patients and
local nursing organizations. Pay attention to your
professional organizations and the staffing guidelines
they recommend. Hold your hospital accountable to the
recommendations for your unit and be willing to step up
and say what you think is appropriate.
We all have to balance cost with care, but nurses are
the last bastions of safety for our patients and we need
to advocate and care for our patients first.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Advocate Profile: Virginia Smith, BSN, RN-BC
A
s a nurse, Virginia has the
opportunity to advocate for
her family, friends, and community to
help them make healthy choices and
lead beneficial lives. She has taught
in the college classroom, worked in
a battered women’s shelter and run
a residential care home for people
with disabilities. These experiences have informed her
current nursing practice in an acute care setting at a
Portland-area hospital.
When it comes to being
an advocate for your patients,
know that your experience at the
bedside cannot be boiled down
to a survey or a productivity
report. It’s always the right time
to do the right thing
Here’s what Smith had to say about nurse staffing and
ONA’s Nurse Lobby Day.
Why is nurse staffing an important issue for you and the
nurses at your hospital?
N
urses at the bedside are the lifeline for their patients.
When they do not have the support they need to
deliver safe patient care, it jeopardizes everyone’s safety.
Patients in hospital beds can feel how busy their nurses
are. I have had patients ask me, “Do you have enough
staff tonight?”
My fellow nurses are frustrated when they aren’t able
to do their jobs because there’s not enough staff to
get the work done. When this happens, patients wait
for relief, nurses go without breaks and at the end of
the day everyone is disappointed. At the same time,
administrators and managers are under budgetary
pressures to stay productive, meet benchmarks and
increase both patient and staff satisfaction. These
pressures are often at odds.
Following the Oregon Nurse Staffing Law is not a
formality or a recommendation – it is the law in place in
our state to ensure safe patient care and nurse practice,
and it is our duty to our patients and our profession to
follow the law. Through the determination of the directcare nurses on our Staffing Committee, we slowly have
made progress at my hospital over the years, but we still
have a way to go.
Why is it important for nurses to participate in Lobby Day
to improve staffing?
W
ith a stronger Nurse Staffing Law in Oregon,
hospitals will have the support and backing they
need at the state level to continue the work of developing
13
and sustaining safe staffing. But if our legislators don’t
know there is problem, they cannot act on our behalf to
enact laws that will help solve the problem. Leadership in
Oregon needs to hear the staffing challenges hospitals
across the state face trying to balance budgets and
maintain safety for staff and patients.
What advice would you offer to other nurses about
getting involved?
W
hen it comes to being an advocate for your
patients, know that your experience at the
bedside cannot be boiled down to a survey or a
productivity report. It’s always the right time to do
the right thing. When you know that your patients
are unsafe, or you do not have the support you need
to practice safely – speak up and ask questions. Don’t
get discouraged – our patients are our shared concern,
and when they are the focus of the conversation, a
collaborative solution will be found. Move up the chain
– if the first person you speak to doesn’t step up to help,
keep going. Don’t give up – sometimes it takes a long
time for progress to start and problems to be resolved.
See the change when it happens, even if it is small at
first – it’s important to not get so caught up in solving
a problem that you don’t notice when it actually starts
to improve. And be ready for the next problem to come
along – patient and nurse advocacy is never done, and
while you can celebrate triumphs when a problem is
resolved, there will always be another patient and nurse
advocacy opportunity in the wings.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
2015 Candidates and Biographies
for ONA Open Positions
Vice President/ANA Delegate
James McLain Jr., RN
Providence Portland Medical Center
I seek to be actively involved in shaping the future of
nursing and health care in Oregon and our nation. My
vision includes ensuring safe staffing limits as defined by
nurses, tougher laws in regard to violence toward nurses
and other medical professionals, and providing affordable
healthcare to every person residing in our nation. I bring
a collaborative spirit, but retain the ability to ask difficult
questions. I would be honored to serve you. Thank you
for your consideration.
Lynda Pond, RNC
Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend
I have been actively involved in ONA since 2000. I have
a deep passion for safe staffing and fair voice in the
work place. I feel that it is important to protect the status
of unions in the work place now more than ever. As the
Vice President of ONA, I hope to able to continue to help
further the growth of ONA and our members well into the
future.
Treasurer
Cheryl Cosgrove, RN, MN, CEN
Grande Ronde Hospital
I have been involved in ONA for many years and am
currently an ONA Director and member of ONA’s PAC. I
am a past OSBN Board Member and currently serve on
an OAHHS task force promoting workplace safety. I have
a strong background in finance and budgeting and can
bring my skills and expertise to the position of treasurer. I
have always been an energetic nurse advocate and would
enjoy supporting nursing in this volunteer role.
committee work to bring to the table as the decisions are
being made for the challenges of the future. I have always
enjoyed working with others to come up with the most
creative way to meet challenges. Please elect me for two
more years.
Rebecca Tilley, RN, CNOR, RNFA
Grande Ronde Hospital
I am entering the election for the Director position on
ONA Board of Directors because it’s an opportunity to
continue the representation of rural Oregon nurses on the
board. As a member of ONA for the past 20 years, I’ve
held several leadership positions within my Bargaining
Unit as well as attending NFN Convention and House of
Delegate Conventions. I’ve learned valuable leadership
skills along the way and feel I can serve Oregon nurses
well in this position.
Marguerite Gutierrez, RN
St. Anthony Hospital
I would be happy to serve the nurses in Oregon as a
member of the ONA Board of Directors. I have seen
our local bargaining unit grow with experience and
professionalism since we negotiated our first contract 23
years ago. Having already been a representative of direct
care RNs in our profession from this part of the state
while serving on the Oregon State Board of Nursing and
through ONA, I am excited to serve in a new capacity.
Thank you!
Terrie King, BSN, RN
Bay Area Hospital Home Health
My term is coming up on the Cabinet on Health Policy
and I would still like to be involved with the union to
continue to learn about process and participate.
Director (four open positions)
Harold Fleshman, RN
OHSU
I would like to continue to work on the Board in these
challenging times of practice and labor changes in
nursing. I have multiple areas that I have worked in or in
14
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
2015 Candidates and Biographies
for ONA Open Positions
Cabinet Health Policy (four open positions)
Jane Ko, BSN, RN
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
If elected, I promise a tireless passion for health policy
and to seek changes that would benefit the nursing
profession. Working at the bedside on a cardiac telemetry
unit gives me a unique prospective into patient safety
and the RN-patient experience. Combining my role as
a cabinet member, previous experience in leadership
and as a staff nurse, I plan to offer insightful direction to
the efficacy of nursing laws that have passed or should
be passed based on what I see at the bedside. My goal
would be to see nurses feeling supported and inspired
by the health policy legislation the ONA cabinet chooses
for each legislative season. By constantly measuring,
questioning, and analyzing the efficacy of legislative
items, I know that impactful, strategic strides can be
achieved to improve the profession. I am known by
colleagues and friends to be dedicated, hardworking, and
to take responsibility seriously. If elected, I do not want
see focuses on band-aid legislation and policies. I desire
sustainable changes that reflect the heart of nursing,
remind us of why we became a nurse in the first place,
and to offer compassion and hope for our patients.
Christy Lynn Scott, RN
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
I attended the ONA conference last year and was
immediately drawn to ONA and all that it does for the
nurses it represents. (It’s funny, but I really had no idea
before that conference.) Since then, I have sought to be
more actively involved with ONA so that I could make
a difference for all nurses across Oregon. I am highly
intrigued by the political process and would love to learn
more about how it works, providing input as a current
bedside nurse. I love collaborating with others, am
passionate about my profession, and am eager to learn.
I am excited at the opportunity to represent my fellow
nurses and to gain experience in the political realm.
15
Patti Brandon, RN, MN, WHCNP, FNP
Scholls Family Care LLC
I am submitting my name as a nominee for the ONA
Cabinet on Health Policy for a second term. I believe
strongly and professionally that we as nurses are
responsible for our own scope of practice, which is
governed by State of Oregon Statues and Federal laws.
Nurses have the ability to help define our practices on
both local and national levels. I have wanted to, and
have been a part of promoting our scope of nursing, and
advanced practice at the State and Federal levels for
many years. My contribution to the Cabinet on Health
Policy for another term will be experience and continued
desire to maintain and promote the scope of nursing in
the State of Oregon and on a Federal level.
Teri Mills, MS, RN, CNE
Portland Community College
I would be honored to serve once again on the ONA
Cabinet on Health Policy. I have a breadth of experience
in the political arena that includes serving as President of
the National Nursing Network Organization, volunteering
as faculty advisor for a nursing program chapter of
the OR Student Nurses Association, and working on
statewide and federal campaigns to help elect candidates
who will advance social justice. This is a challenging time
for nurses given the economic climate, the day-to-day
demands on our time, the constant struggle to ensure
safe staffing, and increasingly complex patient conditions.
My own philosophy and values include transparency,
openness, integrity, accountability, leadership that
produces results to benefit the greater good, and
sharing a vision and purpose that will elevate the
nursing profession and improve public health. Florence
Nightingale’s quote provides me with inspiration every
day, “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words;
they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring
results”. It would be a privilege to represent you and bring
you the results that you deserve. I ask for your support
and your vote. Thank you.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
2015 Candidates and Biographies
for ONA Open Positions
Cabinet on Nursing Practice & Research
(three open positions)
Debra Wright, RN
Grande Ronde Hospital
I am interested in serving on the Cabinet on Nursing
Practice and Research. I would like the opportunity to be
able to contribute to creating and ensuring that Oregon
is a safe place of care for nurses and their patients. I
have been the PNCC chair at GRH for two years and
have been on the staffing committees for approximately
six years. I enjoy working with my coworkers to ensure
we have safe staffing and competent staff to care for
patients. With the knowledge I have gained in the past
years, I feel like I can provide a great contribution to
the cabinet.
Cabinet on Human Rights & Ethics
(three open positions)
Heather Aldrich, BSN, RN, CCRN
Bay Area Hospital
I would like to be elected to an ONA position because I
would like to do what I can to promote the profession of
nursing. Now that I have had an opportunity to practice
for several years, and in a few different areas, I want
to focus on the nursing profession and advocate for
patients as well as staff. Health care is changing in drastic
far-reaching ways. Nurses are imperative to the care
provision, health teaching, and lifestyle implementation
needed for healthy communities. Nurses at all levels must
be involved in decision-making and policy formation that
will shape healthcare in general. We need to educate
and advocate for those we care for. This is a way for
me to impact my profession and share in the enormous
responsibility nurses have to heal our communities.
Cabinet on E&GW (one open position)
Susan V. Johnson, BSN, RN
Kaiser Interstate
including emergency preparation and management.
I have served as the Vice Chair of the Cabinet on
Economic and General Welfare, a past member of the
Board, former Chair of the Cabinet on Health Policy,
Chair of a bargaining unit and have served as an ANA
delegate, ONA delegate, and AMSUS delegate.
I believe in the profession of nursing. I believe that for
many of us, nursing is a calling and a sacred trust. Over
the past 40 years, I have served our profession locally
and nationally through NACOG, ICEA, ANA, AORN, US
Navy, ANA, and ONA. I believe in leadership so I bring
to you my honor, integrity, tenacity, and wit. I will
serve you with the unstoppable belief that we have a
responsibility to each other. I will do my best to elevate
our issues at the highest possible level, support our right
to organize and represent all RNs and to improve all
areas of our profession.
Tamarah Cline, RN
Good Shepherd Medical Center
I feel that, as a nursing professional, there is a need in
our state for stronger representation for our nurses in their
work place. I also feel that we need a strong organization
to help keep our nurses safe and compensated for their
contributions to our health care system. It is important
for us to feel like we are working in a safe and secure
environment knowing that our bi-law’s set forth will be
upheld by our organization. Being a member of our local
union executive committee, I have a working knowledge
of the needs and concerns of my fellow nurses in Eastern
Oregon. I feel that strong bargaining committees are
essential to our success. I also feel that the need for
education and training should be a high standard that
is essential for professional progress. I know that I can
contribute to either one of the positions I am applying,
and am willing to dedicate my time and knowledge for the
betterment of our nurses and organization. Thank you for
your consideration.
I am a highly skilled professional with over 40 years in
hospital, clinic, primary care, and field environments
16
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
2015 Candidates and Biographies
for ONA Open Positions
Nominating Committee (four open positions)
Brigid Ann O’Kane, BSN, RN
Providence Portland Medical Center
Elections Committee (three open positions)
I would love to represent the ONA at the NFN convention
because I believe in the importance of the ONA. I believe
the knowledge gained at the conference should be
shared with ONA members. Personally, I love to advocate
for what I feel is right and I believe what the ONA stands
for is what all RNs should support. Many people state
that they don’t support the union because the union
doesn’t do anything for them. I tell those people the union
does great things for us and if they want their concerns
heard they should join the union. By joining the union, I
explain this sends a message to management that RNs
have value and their concerns should be heard. It is only
through solidarity with the union that RNs can positively
make changes to our failing healthcare system. I believe
in the ONA and would love to represent at the 2015
NFN conference. I have been an ONA member in good
standing since 2012.
No candidates filed.
Norma O’Mara, BSN, RN
Linn County Public Health
I have many years of experience at the state and local
level and feel that I would be available to perform the
duties needed for the Elections Committee.
Steve Rooney, RN
St. Charles Medical Center – Bend
I would like to continue serving ONA in a role such as this.
Last ANA Delegate Alternate
Susan King, MS, RN, CEN, FAAN
Executive Director, Oregon Nurses Association
It is important for ONA to have a full delegation to the
ANA Membership Assembly. As a staff person who works
closely with our national organization, I can serve as
a delegate in the event one of our elected delegates is
unable to attend.
NFN Delegate (two open positions)
Lisa Seaman, RN
Providence Medford Medical Center
Change is inevitable and being an agent of change in
nursing is very important. I want to do all I can to be a
support to my profession and to my colleagues. I want
to learn more about how to be that change, and how to
lend a voice to all who give their heart and soul to our
overworked and under appreciated profession. Being a
delegate is an honor, and I would value the opportunity
to serve.
NFN Director (one open position)
Clarice Gerlach, RN
OHSU
I would like to be more involved on a national level. I have
served on the Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare
for the last three years and as a NFN delegate.
Bruce Humphreys, BSN, RN
St. Charles Medical Center – Bend
I look forward to continuing my leadership role as an
ONA delegate to the NFN Labor Assembly. We are in an
important time in the evolution of the NFN and I feel I am
uniquely qualified to represent ONA as NFN completes
the affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers.
17
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
Support Nurse Staffing at
Nurse Lobby Day
Feb. 10
• Join hundreds of nurses
and nursing students
at the State Capitol in Salem
• Meet your state legislators
• Advocate for issues that are
important to every nurse
• Earn up to 4.0 contact hours
for participating
Nurse Lobby Day will focus on changing Oregon’s
Nurse Staffing Law to empower direct-care nurses
and create a better environment for nurses and
patients statewide.
Need More
Information?
ONA will provide resources and training to all
attendees. First-time Lobby Day participants are
welcome. Registration closes Thursday, Feb. 5.
To sign up to attend Lobby Day, go to ONA’s home
page: www.OregonRN.org and click on the Lobby Day
Registration button, just under the rotating banner.
Please contact your ONA Labor Representative
or Kevin at mealy@OregonRN.org or 800-634-3552.
This program is approved by Oregon Nurses Association, CEARP #301.01.2015 for four contact hours.
ONA is an accredited provider approved by Cal BRN, Provider #15089.
ONA’s Nurse Lobby Day is open to active ONA members and student affiliates.
18
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015
5th Annual NPO Pharmacology Update
Saturday, April 11, 2015
8:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m., Holiday Inn Wilsonville
Topics Include
• Pharmacology Update
Medical Marijuana
Psycho Pharmacology Update
Program Speakers
Alan P. Agins, Ph.D., PRN Associates, Ltd
Over the past 17 years, Dr. Agins has lectured nationally to more than 70,000 advanced practice clinicians
and allied health professionals. He is a regularly invited speaker at annual conferences for a number of
national, regional and state nursing organizations. Dr. Agins has contributed to various journals, continuing
education monographs and pharmacology textbooks as a writer and reviewer.
This program is approved for 6.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 6.0 hours of pharmacology)
by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Program ID 1501031. This program was planned in accordance
with AANP CE Standards and Policies and AANP Commercial Support Standards.
www.NPOregon.org
Vital Statistics 1/12/15
In Negotiations
St. Alphonsus-Ontario, Ontario
2.5-year agreement
.5% retro 7/1/14
1% 7/1/15 2% 7/1/16
Wage equity adjustments
Providence Home Health & Hospice, Portland – Expiration 12/30/14
Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls
3-year agreement
2% July 1, 2014
2% July 1, 2015
1% July 1, 2016
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Portland – Expiration 12/31/14
St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton
3-year agreement
2% 1/1/15
2.5% 1/1/16
2% 1/1/17
Additional step after 25 years
The Oregon Nurse is the official publication of the
Oregon Nurses Association, 18765 SW Boones
Ferry Road, Suite 200, Tualatin, OR 97062, (503)
293-0011, email: ONA@oregonrn.org.
For questions or comments, please contact ONA
at ONA@oregonrn.org or (503) 293-0011.
The Oregon Nurse is owned and published three
times a year by the Oregon Nurses Association.
Subscription price is $25 per year (included in dues
of members and associates). Single copies: $10.
Change of address: Notice should be sent to ONA
six weeks in advance of effective date and include
old and new addresses and zip codes. Copyright
2014 by the Oregon Nurses Association. All rights
reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the written consent of the
19
Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland – Expiration 12/31/14
Providence Seaside Hospital, Seaside – Expiration 11/30/14
On Call (Upcoming)
Amedisys Inc., Portland – Expiration 3/31/15
Grande Ronde Hospital, La Grande – Expiration 4/30/15
Providence Milwaukie Medical Center, Milwaukie – Expiration 5/31/11
publisher. The views and opinions expressed in
the publication do not necessarily reflect those of
the publisher and editors. ONA reserves the right
to reject advertising. Unless noted, acceptance
of advertising does not imply endorsement of
advertised items.
ONA Board of Directors: President Katy Cooper,
RN,President@oregonrn.org; Vice President Norma
O’Mara,RN, n@structuredinc.com; Secretary Diane
Hedrick,RN, dhedrick@eoni.com; Treasurer Pam
DeVisser,NP, pamdv1@comcast.net; Member-atLarge Regina Leytem,RN,queensailor49@yahoo.
com; Directors: Cheryl Cosgrove,RN, dbrcmc@
frontier.com; Dee Apperson,RN, deeapperson@
yahoo.com; Harold Fleshman,RN, fbigpopparn@
gmail.com; James Sims ARNP, jsims1963@gmail.
com; Margaret Ngai, RN, margaretNgaiRN@gmail.
com; Lauryn Kalina, lkalina@peacehealth.org
Executive Team: Executive Director Susan King,
RN, MS, CEN, FAAN, king@oregonrn.org; Assistant
Executive Director of Labor Relations Paul Goldberg,
RN, BSN, BA, goldberg@oregonrn.org; Director
of Health Policy and Government Relations Sarah
Baessler, BS, BA, baessler@oregonrn.org; Director
of Professional Services, Carl Brown PhD, RN,
AOCN ®, FAAN, brown@oregonrn.org; Legal Counsel
Alan Yoder, J.D., yoder@oregonrn.org; Financial
Officer, Robyn Belozer, BS, belozer@oregonrn.org;
Associate Director of Operations Kathy Gannett, BA,
gannett@oregonrn.org, Administrative Assistant,
Linda Sidney, BSW, CMP, sidney@oregonrn.org.
Oregon Nurse - Winter 2015