2013 Legislative Conference – Rockin’ Enrollin’!!

5fmoycN7gYz5e-JEnDvPjM8bcC8VeFJlB4D2gkdU7Tc,G_37zP6XFoy89YUTkmxcjRSWj0Np2ELtL0u1lWy9gj0Nearly two hundred Registered Nurses from around the state attended the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California’s annual Legislative Conference. This two-day event, held during the first week of May in Sacramento, offered nurses ten Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and was topped off with a half day of lobbying at the Capitol.

Luisa Blue, CEO, SEIU Local 521.

Luisa Blue started off the conference as the keynote speaker.  Blue – always an inspiration – was a founding member of the SEIU Nurse Council (now the SEIU Nurse Alliance Leadership Council), the Nurse Alliance of California, and Local 121RN. She was also the first staff person at the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California. But in the early 1980s she was ‘just’ a nurse working at San Francisco General during the then unknown AIDS/HIV epidemic. Blue, along with her dedicated co-workers, spoke out for compassionate care of patients with AIDS/HIV and the need to educate hospital workers on AIDS/HIV and safety. The safe needles and universal precaution regulations for blood borne diseases that were implemented first in California before becoming a national mandate were led by SEIU Registered Nurses at San Francisco General.

Here’s what Mercal Vivier, RN from SEIU L221 in San Diego, had to say: “It is unbelievable that SEIU nurses were so instrumental in getting laws passed that have saved so many lives and that we take for granted in today’s healthcare.”

The theme for this year’s conference was “Rockin’ Enrollin’; Moving The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Forward!” and centered around healthcare reform that will become fully implemented in 2014 with a focus on Medi-Cal expansion, covering the residually uninsured and enrollment/eligibility here in California.

A wide range of other topics were also covered, including infection control and the components for an effective program; Cal/OSHA reporting and whistle-blowing protections; and developing health and safety committees and contract language at our worksites concentrating on safe patient handling and workplace violence prevention. The Honorable Tricia Hunter from the American Nurses Association/California, closed out the CEU day with “The Nurse Practice Act: Nursing Roles and Responsibilities,” a presentation on the scope of practice and legal responsibility of Registered Nurses.

We were thrilled and honored to have such distinguished guest speakers as Deborah Gold, Deputy Chief for Health and Engineering Services at Cal/OSHA, Katy McNamara of the Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program at UCLA, and Andrea Nicholls, of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

Katy McNamara of the Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program at UCLA.

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Deborah Gold, Deputy Chief for Health and Engineering Services at Cal/OSHA.

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Andrea Nicholls, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

Dr. Richard Pan, Assembly Health Committee Chair; Kathleen Billingsley, RN, Chief Deputy Director of Policy and Programs; and Senator Ed Hernandez, Senate Health Committee Chair addressed the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California’s Steering Committee reception later that evening. It was a great opportunity for to meet and discuss important legislation and regulations, including safe staffing and key pieces of legislation that directly affect Registered Nurses and the patients in our care that we’d be lobbying for the following day.

Senator Ed Hernandez and RN leaders.

Our Lobby Day was one of the most exciting ever! The day began with 49 legislative appointments and ended with the successful passage of SB 455, General Acute Care Hospitals: Patient Classification (which was introduced by Sen. Hernandez).

Timothy Gholston and Aaron Cramer, nurses from SEIU L1021 wrapped it up nicely: “I’m fired up and very interested in getting more involved” and “It’s so important for nurses and our Unions to continue to lobby our representatives in order to improve healthcare policy and laws."

Timothy Gholston and Aaron Cramer, nurses from SEIU L1021 wrapped it up nicely: “I’m fired up and very interested in getting more involved” and “It’s so important for nurses and our Unions to continue to lobby our representatives in order to improve healthcare policy and laws.”

Every year an honorary nursing degree is presented to individuals for their dedication to nurses, their profession and the patients in their care. Mark Catlin, Industrial Hygienist and Interim Director of the SEIU Health and Safety Department was awarded this year’s honorary degree. He follows in a well loved and respected line of honorary nurses that includes Bill Borwegen, recently retired H&S Director at SEIU and Ernest Harris, Area Director SEIU Local 521.

Mark Catlin, Honorary RN & Ingela Dahlgren, RN

Mark Catlin, Honorary RN & Ingela Dahlgren, RN.

The very best part of the conference was Luisa Blue, CEO and honorary nurse Ernest Harris, from SEIU Local 521 presenting Carmen Morales-Board, RN, FNP with the 2013 Glenda Canfield Award!  There wasn’t a dry eye and this award for being an exemplary nurse and patient advocate was so well deserved.  Among so many accomplishments, including being a member of the Board of Registered Nursing, Carmen along with her Bakersfield RN team was awarded last year with the Obama’s Administration Champion of Change Award for their work educating fellow nurses and community members of the benefits of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Health Care for All).

It was an incredible two days of learning, networking and lobbying. And we’re looking forward to seeing you all next year!! Click here to see the slide show.

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