Tell legislators to prioritize nurses and other essential workers 

Michigan legislators are considering how to spend billions of dollars in federal funds the state has available from the American Recovery Plan Act.  They need to hear that nurses, health care professionals and other essential workers who have put themselves in harm’s way throughout this pandemic should be a priority for receiving some of these funds.

Send an email to your legislators urging them to pass “hero pay” for all of Michigan’s frontline workers.  

There’s no doubt our employers should be investing in nurses and health care workers and providing the retention pay we deserve. As we fight for that, MNA is also advocating to make sure that federal funds are going to those who have sacrificed so much during the pandemic.

Take advantage of opportunities to serve on MNA councils and committees

There are openings for MNA members on multiple councils and committees, especially the following: Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency; Resolution; and Retirement.

MNA's CE Provider Unit is also looking for RNs with an advanced degree and experience in providing continuing education.

The Board of Directors will be appointing new members in November. To apply, just fill out this bio and consent form. 

MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union and professional association for registered nurses in the country.

NNU offers free CE credits to MNA/NNU members, including the module “COVID-19 and the Crisis of Care Work.” Register for the module by clicking here. 

COVID-19 has revealed how care work is both essential to our society and yet severely devalued under capitalism. This course will explore the central role of care work in our society, how and why this work is gendered and racialized, and the ways in which care work and care provisions, particularly healthcare, have been cheapened and dismantled. The course will consider the opportunities the current crisis offers for envisioning and creating a world based on care rather than profit.

Help support elected officials who support nurses and health professionals

The Michigan Nurses Association Political Action Committee (MNA PAC) needs your help to support elected officials and candidates who fight for our legislative priorities, including:  

• Safe staffing ratios (the Safe Patient Care Act)
• Reducing workplace violence
• Support for collective bargaining

The powerful hospital industry, which opposes a ratio law and other MNA legislation, spends untold dollars to influence policymakers. The MNA PAC helps support lawmakers who stand up to hospital CEOs and other administrators who don’t share frontline values.

The MNA PAC does not use union dues. All money in the PAC fund – every single dollar – comes from voluntary donations that are allocated carefully by fellow MNA members. You can easily and securely donate online. Together, we can put leaders in power who will advocate for nurses and health professionals.

Last chance - submit comment in support of fair maps 

For the very first time, a commission led by everyday citizens is drawing boundaries for Michigan’s congressional and state legislative districts. These maps will affect our lives for the next decade. We need your help to ensure that these maps are drawn fairly to accurately represent our state.  

Will you submit public comment in support of fair maps? Sign up here to receive more info! 

Partisan gerrymandering is big problem in Michigan. For our government to represent the people, we need a system where the political party that wins the most votes wins the majority of seats. That is why the Michigan Constitution requires the commission to draw maps that are equally fair to both Democrats and Republicans. Fair maps will provide true competition and allow the politicians with the best ideas for your area to be the ones to represent us in Lansing and D.C.! 

Retiring soon? There's a place for you at MNA!

The Michigan Nurses Association Retirement Committee is looking for retired nurses who still have much to give but have shifted to working part-time or not at all. Some suggestions:

• Be a speaker for a local nursing school program
• Mentor nursing students
• Lobby for issues such as the Safe Patient Care Act
• Help support MNA Local Bargaining Units in your area
• Attend/help with initiatives for safe patient care
• Participate in disaster relief programs
• Provide care as part of a mission trip

To become part of the MNA retirees group, email Chair Becky Baldwin. More information is also available on the committee's new website. Look for the survey and tell the committee what interests you as a retired nurse!

Check out the MNA nursing support resource webpage

The COVID pandemic is definitely not over for healthcare workers. If you’re feeling stressed, let us help! Check out our MNA Nursing Support Resource webpage for quick and easy guided meditations, websites, and links to help you get through your shift and beyond.

MNA members are eligible for up to $2,000 in conference funding  

The Michigan Nurses Foundation Safe Patient Care Nursing Practice Scholarship provides up to $2,000 for MNA Local Bargaining Unit (LBU) members to attend national healthcare/specialty conferences.

Professional healthcare conferences at the national level are outstanding opportunities for nurses to expand their knowledge of various aspects of nursing including patient care and/or fields of expertise. Additionally, conferences provide a unique opportunity to interact with nurses representing other institutions who have similar interests. 

Unfortunately, the cost incurred by travel, lodging, registration, and associated expenses for these highly beneficial experiences often render the opportunity prohibitive. This scholarship is intended to defray at least a portion of such costs and thereby enable nurses to take advantage of this valuable experience. Just click here to learn more and apply.   

MNA House of Delegates passes resolutions

During its annual meeting this month, the MNA House of Delegates passed three resolutions: 

• RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NURSES AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS - MNA recognizes that nurses and healthcare professionals should be honored for their dedication, determination, and caring service during this pandemic.
• RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE MNA’s AFFILIATION WITH THE NATIONAL NURSES UNITED (NNU) - The House of Delegates affirmed its support of the MNA Board of Directors’ decision to affiliate with the National Nurses United, the largest nurses’ union in the country. 
• RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF MNA REPRESENTATION - MNA may organize ancillary staff at MNA represented organizations when it is strategically appropriate.  

The text of the resolutions can be found in MemberLink under "My MNA."

Please note, delegates are still participating in the mail-in election for MNA’s Board of Directors and committees. The results will be announced in November after the ballots are counted.

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