Nurse Union Benefits

Nursing unions provide a forum for nurses to address professional issues impacting their work lives. According to the New York State Nurses Association, nurses who join a union have a stronger voice in decision-making that affects their practice.

History

• NYNSA was the first nursing union in the U.S., formed "to protect the health and welfare of nurses." This model has since been replicated in many states, while other nurses have joined traditional labor unions such as the AFL-CIO.

Effects

• According to the New England Nurses Association, unions educate members about health care and help them make informed political decisions. Unions have a powerful impact on working conditions, negotiating contracts that mandate staff nurse involvement in patient care decisions.

Benefits

• According to NYNSA, the collective bargaining efforts of nursing unions directly improve salaries and benefits for members.

Significance

• Nursing unions are emerging as a powerful influence on legislation at the state and federal level. The California Nurses Association, for example, successfully backed a law mandating the nation's first minimum nurse-patient ratios for specific nursing units. (See Reference 4)

Considerations

• As of late 2009, there is a good deal of debate about the need for a super union for nurses. The three largest nursing unions---the California Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, and United American Nurses---continue to discuss the pros and cons of joining forces.