NNOC - Illinois

Upcoming Continuing Education Classes

The "Forces of Magnetism"
Their Impact on RN Autonomy, Independent Judgment, and Advocacy

Springfield, Illinois
August 22nd

Chicago, Illinois
September 3rd

Course Description
This course examines how the professional models of care, nursing leadership and management style promoted by magnet status designation schemes impact the registered nurse’s ability to exercise independent professional judgment and advocate in the exclusive interest of the patient; and the impact of the requirement that hospitals are mandated to demonstrate it has a mechanism in place that analyze patient outcome data while incorporating clinical decision-making technologies.

• Click here to download Registration Form 

Collective Patient Advocacy Series:
Strategies to Secure Safe Staffing Standards and RN Patient Advocacy Rights

St Louis, Missouri
August 20th

Course Description
This class examines the key elements of the National Hospital Patient Protection Legislation which includes: (1) safe staffing by patient acuity and ratios; (2) RN rights as patient advocate; (3) RN/patient whistle-blower protection of this landmark legislation and its impact on patient protection and the RN right to advocate in the exclusive interest of the patient.

• Click here to download Registration Form

HB 311 Public Hearing
Illinois Single-Payer Healthcare Bill

Illinois State Rep Mary Flowers is hosting a number of public hearings on the Illinois HB311 single-payer healthcare bill.  One hearing is being held in Geneva, IL, in August and another will be held in Champaign-Urbana on September 18.  Please call Donna Smith, 312-491-4901, if you need more information on single-payer healthcare reform or on these hearings.

Thursday, August 14th
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Kane County Government Center
719 S. Batavia Ave.
Geneva, IL 60134

Thursday. September 18th
Time and Location TBA
Champaign-Urbana

Illinois Nurses Lobby for RN to Patient Ratios in Springfield

 On April 8, members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association met in Springfield to attend a hearing on the serious concerns of unsafe staffing in acute-care hospitals. Nurses came from all over Illinois, including RNs from Cook County Bureau of Health, northern, southern and central Illinois. The educational hearing on HB 392 was hosted by the bill’s sponsor Rep. Mary Flowers (D) of the 31st district.  Flowers has worked tirelessly to educate other legislators on the nursing shortage and chronic understaffing.
 
For over an hour and a half nurses gave testimony on the horrors of unsafe staffing.  Concern for patient safety was the most oft-cited problem, but also injuries and nurse burnout were common threads in each testimony.  Unfortunately, this is not the first time that registered nurses have testified to the Illinois Legislature on unsafe staffing. Last year in committee hearing, HB 392 RN-to-patient ratios was opposed by the Illinois Nurses Association and the Illinois Hospital Association, favoring instead a “staffing by acuity bill.”  While both bills passed out of committee, INA’s collaboration with IHA ensured that their staffing bill, that does nothing to fix Illinois staffing crisis, passed into law last year.
 
California Nurses Association Council of Presidents member Zenei Cortez discussed the history of staffing laws in California. “California, like Illinois, passed a staffing-by-acuity bill first,” Cortez said, “but it wasn’t until mandatory ratios were implemented did the conditions in the hospitals change.”  The testimony from the Illinois RNs corroborated Cortez’s statement. Even though the “staffing by acuity “ bill went into effect on Jan. 1, 2008 in Illinois, unsafe staffing continues to be a problem. By now, all hospitals should have posted their staffing plans, and RNs all across Illinois have yet to see the plan or safe staffing in their units.

Nurses vowed to continue educating their legislators on RN-to-patient ratio legislation, and will return to the Illinois Assembly next year to pass real safe staffing reform. 

 Cook County Bureau of Health Services News

Download the Newest Cook County Newsletter

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - June 2008

Catch up on previous news!

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - April 2008

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - November 2007

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - August 2007

Download Our "Scrubs for SiCKO" Edition - July 2007

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - July 2007

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - May 2007

Download the CCBHS Newsletter - December 2006

NNOC sponsored billboards (Chicago) to counter Cook County budget cuts.

Cook County Budget Cuts Fight Continues

Press Releases

Nurses Applaud 26 New Cosponsors for Illinois Single Payer Bill
Press Release 04/18/08

Nurses, Patients March on CIGNA Forum to Protest Insurance Industry Abuse of Patients
Press Release 01/15/08

Nurses, Medical Staff, Patients, Clergy, and Commissioners Hold Healthcare Vigil at County In Advance of Key Votes - Commissioners to Vote on Patients’ Budget Amendment
Press Release 11/27/07

Chicago, National Nurses Host SiCKO House Parties to Urge Guaranteed Healthcare as DVD Released
Press Release 11/08/07

Community Rally to Protest Proposed Nurse Staffing Cuts at County Clinics - Simon and Stroger’s Nursing Cuts Decimate County’s Clinic and Eliminate Access to Care for Thousands of Chicagoans
Press Release 04/27/07

RNs to Hold Requiem for Cook County Clinics - Nurses Hold Memorial Service Following Closures
Press Release 04/06/07

RNs Protest Apparent Plan to Close More County Clinics - Launch Advertising Campaign to Rally Public Against Cuts - Tuesday April 3, 9 am
Press Release 04/02/07

Press Conference Calling for the Resignation of Cook County Bureau of Health Director--Nurses Support Immigrant Rights Groups - Wednesday March 28th, 9:30 am
Press Release 03/27/07

Nurses, Clergy, Community Leaders Rally at Mt. Sinai Hospital to Demand Agreement to “Democracy Pledge” for Upcoming Vote - As Nurses Seek Collective Voice to Enhance Patient Protections, They Insist Hospital Respect Democratic Principles - Monday 9 a.m. Press Conference
Press Release 03/23/07

Nurses to Support Community Rally to Save South Side Clinics - Why did Commissioner Butler agree to Clinic Closures in his District? - Thursday March 15th, 3:00 pm
Press Release 03/15/07

Cook County Nurses Protest Heartless Healthcare Cuts at Board of Commissioners Hearing - Commissioners Want to Protect Patronage not Patients - Thursday March 1, 9:30 a.m.
Press Release 02/28/07

Nurses Blast “Immoral” Vote on Cuts, Charges County “Chose Patronage Over Patients” - Pledge to Step Up Fight to Protect Public Health
Press Release 02/23/07

Nurses & Doctors March on City Hall To Fight Public Health Threat - Will Demonstrate in Support of Commissioners' Bi-Partisan Deal to Save Cook County Health Services - Thursday March, Rally
Press Release 02/21/07

Missing: Todd Stroger - Cook County RNs and Public Allies Lead Rally, Search Party for Missing Board Chairman--Wednesday at 5 pm - After Announcing Devastating Cuts to Public Health Budget, Stroger Has Not Faced the Public Since January 16th
Press Release 02/05/07

Nurses, Patients, County Workers, Cook County Residents Plan Major March on Board - Mass Demonstration Sponsored by National Nurses Organizing Committee, AFSCME, and Chicago Federation of Labor - Cruel, 17% Healthcare Cuts Would Have a Devastating Effect on Chicago Patients--Cuts Targeted at Mothers, Children, Infants - Monday Press Conference Precedes Rally
CNA/NNOC Press Release 01/26/07