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California Nurse Alliance Sets Strategic Goals, New Leadership

The Nurse Alliance of CA Steering Committee met in Oakland, CA on August 4th and set long-term strategic goals and gained new leadership.

The 2008-2012 goals include:
• Nurse partnership: Unite nurses to have the strength to address real solutions for quality patient care, health care reform, and the nursing profession.
• Value Care Value Nurse: Continue to reach out to and unite the 1.2 non-union RN’s with SEIU’s current membership.
• Growth Strategy: Adopt/actively support SEIU’s Healthcare Division national hospital growth strategy to organize RN’s and healthcare workers to stand together on healthcare issues.
• Quality Agenda: Engage RN’s in improving quality patient outcomes and professional satisfaction by developing effective tools and strategies to implement at the bedside, as well as the local, state, and national levels.
• Healthcare Reform: Pass healthcare reform that ensures safe, quality nursing services throughout the nation by drawing on the US public’s trust in nurses as a credible voice.

The proposal is a direct result of recommendations from nursing delegates to the International Puerto Rico Convention, the May Nurse Legislative Conference and SEIU local nurse leaders.

Other updates include the appointment of Carrie Cianchetti, RN, as the CA Nurse Alliance Executive Director, and placing Sharlyn Hansen, RN, in the newly created and much needed position of Nurse Practice & Education Director. This arrangement will best serve the main goals of the Nurse Alliance; uniting our nurses as leaders of an integrated healthcare delivery team, participating fully in the National Nurse Alliance, protecting SEIU nurses from any organization that wants to do them harm, and providing educational opportunities and a voice in healthcare.

In addition, a total of seven RN delegates will hold seats on the National Nurse Alliance Leadership Council, which is chaired by International Vice President, Mary Kay Henry, RN.

Greg Pullman, SEIU CA Public Sector Organizing Director, shared the results of 4 months of data collected from SEIU California Nurses. The findings indicate that; 1) the work of the Union is led by very dedicated long-term leaders, and more leaders are needed 2) member databases are in need of continual updating, 3) recruiting and welcoming new leaders into our ranks at worksites is a major effort for staff and members, and 4) educating nurses about workplace issues is essential in organizing and building strong coalitions.

We now have the tools and the means to make SEIU the union of choice for ALL healthcare workers and placing nurses at the forefront in shaping the future. The Nurse Alliance is truly run by and for nurses.

We need your continuous involvement to make our union – SEIU – THE UNION for healthcare workers.

Come join us for an Education and Lobby Day in Sacramento
Wednesday, August 27 or Wednesday, September 10.

You will have an opportunity to network with other California SEIU nurses,  meet and interact with elected officials, AND earn 6 CEU’s!
Transportation, food, and fun will be provided!

R.S.V.P. Today with your California Nurse Alliance Delegates:
Carmen Cruise: 661-307-2123
Carmen Morales: 661-871-9674
Lucy Flores: 661-805-1247
Or your SEIU 521 Representative: Call Ernest Harris in Kern County at (661) 321-4160 (ernest.harris@seiu521.org), or Maki Matsumura in Santa Clara County at (408) 678-3337.