The HCA RN Network:
Uniting the World's Largest Healthcare System

NNOC/CNA has formed the HCA RN Network in response to growing concerns that HCA business practices are devaluing nurses and driving them from the bedside. WELCOME!

NNOC/CNA Lends A Helping Hand

In 2008 1,300 HCA nurses in San Jose, CA who have contracts with CNA/NNOC will begin negotiating renewal of their contract. They are willing to lend their voice at the bargaining table—to support efforts of HCA RNs in other parts of the country—to protect themselves and their patients.

Through their collective actions they have already achieved:

The nation’s best staffing standards, including the first RN-to-patient ratios based on acuity
Powerful protections for RNs to advocate for their patients, including professional practice committees (an elected, all-beside RN committee that deals with patient care concerns)
Greatly enhanced retirement benefits
A strong grievance process with justcause standards for any discipline
Annual step increases resulting in huge improvements in pay, including average RN salaries of $49.84/hour for days and $55.84/hour for nights

NNOC/CNA Nurses of HCA

“Helping HCA nurses in other parts of the country join together with us is a no-brainer. By uniting in California we have been able to achieve binding arbitration for grievances, double pay for a double shift, and professional practice committees which have direct input into patient care decisions. Just think what we can accomplish by uniting across the country.”

Malinda Markowitz, RN
Surg-ortho-neuro
CNA/NNOC Council of Presidents
Good Samaritan (HCA), San Jose, CA

“I currently work in ICU and have been a beside nurse there for 35 years. As a result of my contract with CNA/NNOC I will retire with a guaranteed pension for life and retiree healthcare. I believe all registered nurses deserve security when they retire. Does HCA really think otherwise?”

Dorothy Higgins, RN, ICU
San Jose Regional Medical Center (HCA)
San Jose, CA

HCA – The largest for profit hospital chain in the world

With more than 165 hospitals in 20 states, 100 surgery centers, its own staffing agency, and other affiliated facilities, HCA is one of the largest employers of RNs in the country. Many of those nurses believe that by uniting together nationally, we can accomplish great things for our profession, patients, and communities. HCA has a network of administrators, managers, and HR personnel across state lines who share information and experience, rely on one another’s research, and collectively work to achieve their ends.

Shouldn’t nurses be doing the same? Nurses in HCA hospitals need reasonable working conditions and rights in order to properly serve the public. We need fair compensation and staffing ratios no matter what state or location we are in, and HCA can afford to provide this. In fact, they can’t afford not to. Study after study establishes that improved nurse–to–patient staffing ratios, along with compensation for our responsibilities and experience, lead to fewer medical errors, enhanced retention rates, and more favorable clinical and financial outcomes.

We can’t wait

With the private equity buyout of HCA in 2006, the hospital chain now carries massive debt. The very wealthy owners of the company face enormous pressure to cut costs in order to generate skyrocketing interest payments while maintaining their exceptional standard of living. So these executives are moving to sell off hospitals, reduce staffing, decrease quality care, or engage in other cost–cutting measures. For those of us around during the days of Columbia/HCA—we know all too well what those kinds of pressures and cuts lead to for RNs and our patients.

The challenges facing dedicated HCA RNs grow stronger while our nation’s healthcare crises deepens.

“Nurses want to deliver the highest-quality care to their patients, but conditions inside hospitals have made that more and more difficult. Poor working conditions, including short staffing, mandatory overtime, and low wages, are driving nurses from the bedside. I am not willing to stand by while the delivery of patient care continues to erode.”

Joanne Guimond-Thompson, RN, BSN
West Houston Medical Center (HCA), Houston, TX

“Nurses know better than anyone what ails our healthcare system and how to fix it. By acting in concert before legislative and regulatory boards, as well as our employers, I believe our voice will carry a lot more weight.”

Emily Wilkie, RN
Centennial Med. Center (HCA), Nashville, TN