We represent an alternative option and collaborative voice for nurses.
We are comprised of seven state nurses associations: Indiana, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Washington, representing more than 71,000 union nurses nationwide.
With support from the national union, each member association works to achieve policy outcomes most critical to its nurse membership. These provisions, woven together, are the foundation for the National Federation of Nurses’ advocacy at the federal level and create a system of positive change for nurses and their patients across the country.
Here’s a snapshot of the National Federation of Nurses in action:
Indiana State Nurses Association
The National Federation of Nurses President Barbara Crane, RN, and members of the New York Nurses Association (NYSNA) participated in Montana Nurses Association’s 2010 Labor Retreat, during which Barbara and NYSNA provided educational programming and assistance—a great example of collaboration across the National Federation of Nurses!
New York State Nurses Association
The National Federation of Nurses President Barbara Crane, RN, has been highly active in New York supporting the New York State Nurses Association’s (NYSNA) efforts to save the landmark St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan. The hospital has closed as of April 30. Eileen Dunn, RN, board member of NYSNA and the National Federation of Nurses was chair of St Vincent’s and has fought a strong valiant fight to support the staff, patients and community to preserve an acute care hospital in the village.
With support from the National Federation of Nurses, NYSNA recently celebrated the passage of a Disclosure Law that requires hospitals to disclosure their nurse-to-patient ratios. NYSNA is now working hard to ensure hospitals comply with the law.
Ohio Nurses Association
The National Federation of Nurses is lending its voice to pass HB 450, legislation that will increase violence against nurses in the workplace from a misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony. Other public servants such as police officers, school bus drivers, firefighters and emergency services workers already enjoy this protection in Ohio.
Washington State Nurses Association
Washington State Nurses Association, in collaboration with many coalition partners, was instrumental in passing the Safe Baby Bottle Act (SSB 6248), which will eliminate the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups, and other children’s dishware, as well as from sports bottles. Washington becomes only the second state to ban BPA in sports bottles, and the fifth state to ban the chemical in baby bottles and other children’s food and beverage containers.
Membership is open to any state nurses association with a collective bargaining program or an independent RN labor union. Organizational affiliates, or state associations or labor organizations who represent nurses for collective bargaining or whose members receive collective bargaining through shared services agreement with a nurses labor organization, are also welcome.