Pros And Cons Of A Unionized Environment In Health Care

What do you see as the pros and cons of a unionized environment in a health care facility?

Working for a union in any job runs its pros and cons but in healthcare, it does seem to run a higher risk. For one, if as a union worker you do decide to strike because of working conditions or pay then, you have the risk of abandoning patients you have built a relationship with and leaving them with unsatisfactory care over a situation they have no control over. This is not saying that the strike will harm the patients, but it does run the risk of upsetting them. Being in a union will cost you a small fee out of your paycheck. Another con is that you are obligated to strike when the union strikes. Meaning, you may not agree with the strike but since

In todays times these hospital systems have systems in place for other nurses and fill in workers to come in and replace those who are on strike so that patient care does not go down and patient mortality does not go up. Do pay a fill in worker is usually much more expensive than a regular full time worker which cost the hospital system more money. It also effects the hospital system because from the outside many people view think negatively of the hospital when they see the nurses are on strike. It The reason for the strike may be a valid one and one that will improve patient care but often the hospital will spend a surplus of money trying to rebuild their reputation afterward and in preparation beforehand. ( Nurse.org) Usually the hospital knows when a strike is coming and has months to plan for the strike and the absence of its employees. By law the employees that are going on strike must make the hospital system aware at least 10 days before the strike takes place so that they have time to make adjustments for patient care. (NurseJournal). In the last three years The Minnesota Hospital system has seen over 500 bedside nurses leave their system due to the lack of patient care. They are leaving because they believe patients are not being treated as individuals and deserve better care than what the hospital is giving

Bargaining rights have grown and has become the best way for America to raise wages (Collective bargaining). If you and your coworkers bargain for certain rights with your employers and they are agreed upon these rights are not go be changed back to their original state. As discussed previously nurses are mandated not to abandon their patients by law but by being a part of a union nurses are not charged for patient abandonment in the case of a strike. When a nurse strikes it is seen as employer abandonment if the strike is due to a hospital and employer related issue, not nurse abandonment of a patient. (Cara Gray Bridgers). A strike is never the solution a healthcare worker is hoping to have to jump to especially for the sake of their patients and the reputation and community of the hospital system. Sometimes the workers are left with the feeling that a strike is the only way for their voices to be heard (ex the 2014 Hopkins Hospital strike). Being a part of a union makes it easier for the voices of those in the hospital system to be heard but not without its challenges and risks on the job as