Local 5131 Member Update, Nov. 1, 2024

Greetings, it’s time for another union update! We had our Labor Management and Staffing Committee meeting, which is held every other month, and have some information we want to pass on to you.

First off, if you are placed on stand-by, you are only on stand-by for your unit. You cannot be called in to work in another department, even if it is within your cluster. Also, if you are cancelled or pulled out of order without volunteering, please make your manager aware immediately. Neither of these things should be happening. We also need you to pass this information on to us so we can help.

There are updates being made to PolicyTech which will change the format of the policies, but are not changing the policies themselves. Management cannot change policies at will and must share anything that has been approved through administration to change so we can demand to bargain over it.

The transport nurse will be continuing for the time being. The equipment needed to complete the telemetry updates is backordered, and the new projected date of completion is in November. We know how inconvenient this is but we are still responsible for getting our patients to their tests on time. If there is an issue, whether it be sending or receiving a patient, please call the supervisor to expedite the transport. New admissions from the ED should not be using the transport nurse even if they were a hold patient.

In the past two months, there were 178 short staffing forms submitted. This is about tripled the normal amount, and we encourage you all to continue putting them in. Anyone can put them in, including clerks and PCTs. These forms can be used when understaffed, no ancillary help, no managerial help, or even if you are fully staffed but are overwhelmed due to patient acuity. This helps us keep track of issues and trends. There aren’t union reps on every floor and every shift, so we have no idea there are problems if these forms are not submitted.

This being said, the PCUs have been having a lot of difficulties with staffing. We were told this was mainly due to call outs, but that there also have been 19 PCU positions filled with graduate nurses, all of whom have passed the NCLEX and their background checks. Hopefully as these nurses come off orientation, things will get better. PCUs are still slated at a 4:1 ratio, which should only go to 5:1 in cases of call outs where coverage could not be found. Your schedules should be posted for 4:1 ratios, and if that is not able to be met, open shifts should be posted.

One West in Vineland and Two East/South in Elmer should be at a 5:1 ratio. You should only have med-surge and tele patients on these units, and should only go to a 6:1 ratio if there is a call out where coverage is not found. Your schedule should also be posted as such.

Bridgeton Mental Health, we know things have been rough for you to say the least. There are a lot of tech openings that they have been pulling nurses to fill, and leaving the units with minimal staffing. This is not going to be a quick fix, but we will be working on this outside of our regular meetings. Please make sure you are calling your ANM or the supervisor to cover for breaks, or if there are any issues on your unit. It is hard to help after the fact and we have been told that they are more than willing to help out if called. ARCC up problems in real time if needed.

Our staffing committee has openings if anyone is interested in getting more involved.