Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions
Support for Local Nurses
By Susan E. Walsh
January 01, 2015
Thursday PM
The nurses at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center have reached the end of our agreement and are attempting to bargain a new contract with the hospital. We are asking for the support of our community as we attempt to ensure excellent patient care in a positive work environment by improving nurse retention & recruitment.
It is our mission to cultivate a healthy care setting that will nurture young nurses on their path to excellence. As community members, we value local quality care for our friends and family. We hope to achieve this by asking the hospital to:
• Support a healthy work environment where all are treated with respect.
• Provide acute care clinical support 24-hours a day. It is critical to have an experienced nurse on duty at all times to ensure excellent patient care and to help mentor caregivers.
• Equitable wages to promote retention and recruitment. Currently, KMC nurses are the lowest paid within the PeaceHealth system. This does not take into account our local cost of living.
• Help us establish a preceptorship program that will give new graduate nurses the foundation needed to become a high quality nurse.
We welcome any suggestions on ways to achieve these goals as we enter our next session of contract negotiations starting January 5, 2015. If you would like to show your support for the KMC nurses, please contact us so we may provide you with a yard sign or bumper sticker.
Susan E. Walsh, RN
Email: ktn_aana@outlook.com
Ketchikan, Alaska
About: "I have lived in Ketchikan and worked at Ketchikan Medical Center since 1977. I am the President of the Alaska Nurse's Association-Ketchikan Bargaining Unit."
Received December 27, 2014
- Published January 01, 2015
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