KNOWLEDGE IN ACTION

Chart, Apr 2006 by Perry, Kathleen M

"A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting."-Carlos Castaneda

Nurses from the RC-23 bargaining unit demonstrated their commitment to safeguarding patient safety by improving the nurse s work environment when they shared their knowledge about their working conditions in order to move nurses to action at Nurse Political Action Day in Springfield last month. Before proceeding to the Capitol to lobby the legislators to support HB4525 "No Mandatory Overtime in State Facilities," the RC-23 nurses told their stories that put a real face on the unsafe working conditions they are witness to in the state mental health facilities and prisons on a daily basis.

INA Board Member and Government Relations Chair, Mildred Taylor RN, an RC-23 nurse from Read Mental Health Facility, introduced the panel members. Sandra Fischer RN, INA Board Member from Elgin Mental Health Facility, presented the impact of mandatory overtime on the nurse. Joe Williams RN, corrections nurse in Decatur, discussed the financial impact on Illinois taxpayers of mandatory overtime. Mary Little RN, from Jacksonville Department of Corrections, reported she worked more than 24 hours straight and shared the negative effects that shift had on her. Department of Corrections nurse Mary Sparks- Johnson RN, from Graham Correctional Center, discussed how state nurses are mandated when vendor nurses are unavailable. Jack Overfelt RN, from Pontiac Correctional Center, shared his experience working double shifts three to four days a week. He went on to explain how he was disciplined for missing a patients bowel, preparation for a colostomy after working an exhausting double shift. Overfelt said nurses are not only unsafe on the job when working extended hours, but also on the road. He personally had several close calls where he almost ran off the road due to his exhaustion. He related the toll that mandatory overtime takes on family life as well. Nicolette Duffield RN, from Jacksonville, told the audience the previous weekend she was the only RN on duty for the entire facility and explained the multiple medication passes, dressing changes and physician contacts for which she was solely responsible.

It takes courage to speak out and report the truth. The truth is that nurses in RC-23 facilities take care of patients that society often does not view as worthy of quality care i.e., the mentally ill and prisoners. These nurses know better. They know the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses compels them to practice at the highest level. The Code statements that seem most relevant here are:

1) The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of the health problem.

2) The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.

3) The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving healthcare environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.

The nurses of RC-23 are an example of INA members who took the Code of Ethics for Nurses seriously and made it real by moving from knowledge to action and we must continue to do the same.

Kathleen M. Perry RN PhD

President