Negotiating ratios contract by contract is unrealistic. Look for the information on what to include in your letters elsewhere in this issue. Don t put it off. Nurses must stand together and mobilize around this bill. The time is now to take a stand on behalf of patients.
Nurses have a social contract with the public.
Our presence in adequate numbers to care for patients in all setting is under attack. It s time we recognized our worth at the same time we are advocating for patients. I encourage all RNs to write down an example of when your training and experience made the difference in a patient s life. I am talking about comforting the dying, working with a family in crisis, recognizing an early complication, or questioning a medication order that could have compromised a patient. It happens frequently and we all too readily discount our contributions.