National Nurses United

National Nurses United is the largest union and professional organization of registered nurses in the United States, with over 150,000 members, including American Federation of Teachers and Service Employees International Union affiliates. The organization was founded in 2009 by the California Nurses Association, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association, with the goal of promoting the interests of nurses and patients nationwide, in collaboration with American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and The Joint Commission. National Nurses United has been involved in various advocacy efforts, including campaigns for Medicare for All, single-payer healthcare, and improved Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, often working with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and other prominent Democratic Party (United States) leaders. The organization has also been a strong supporter of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiatives.

● History

The history of National Nurses United dates back to the founding of the California Nurses Association in 1903, which later became a key affiliate of the organization, along with United American Nurses and Massachusetts Nurses Association. In the 1990s and 2000s, these organizations began to work together on various campaigns, including efforts to pass California Proposition 216 and California Senate Bill 697, with support from Gray Davis, Dianne Feinstein, and other California State Legislature members. The founding of National Nurses United in 2009 marked a significant milestone in the history of the nursing profession, as it brought together nurses from across the country to advocate for common goals, including Affordable Care Act implementation and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act compliance. The organization has since worked with Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, and other prominent Democratic National Committee leaders to advance its agenda.

● Organization

National Nurses United is a democratic organization, with a governing board composed of representatives from each of its affiliate organizations, including California Nurses Association, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association. The organization is headquartered in Oakland, California, and has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, and other locations, often collaborating with American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, and American Association of Colleges of Nursing. National Nurses United has a number of departments and programs, including a legislative department, a communications department, and a research department, which work together to advance the organization's goals, in partnership with National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The organization also has a number of committees and task forces, including a committee on healthcare reform and a task force on nurse staffing ratios, which often engage with American Academy of Nursing, National Academy of Medicine, and other prominent healthcare organizations.

● Policy_and_Advocacy

National Nurses United is a strong advocate for a number of policies, including Medicare for All, single-payer healthcare, and improved Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, often working with Public Citizen, Families USA, and other prominent healthcare advocacy groups. The organization has also been a vocal supporter of nurse staffing ratios, safe patient handling, and other initiatives to improve patient care and protect the health and safety of nurses, in collaboration with The Joint Commission, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association. National Nurses United has worked with a number of prominent lawmakers, including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Nancy Pelosi, to advance its policy agenda, and has also partnered with Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and other labor unions to promote the interests of nurses and other healthcare workers. The organization has also been involved in a number of high-profile campaigns, including efforts to pass California Senate Bill 1152 and New York State Senate Bill 2844, with support from Gavin Newsom, Andrew Cuomo, and other prominent state legislature members.

● Membership_and_Chapters

National Nurses United has over 150,000 members, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other healthcare professionals, from a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The organization has chapters in a number of states, including California, Massachusetts, and New York, and also has a number of affiliate organizations, including California Nurses Association, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association. National Nurses United members are involved in a number of activities, including advocacy, education, and community outreach, often in partnership with American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, and other prominent healthcare organizations. The organization also offers a number of benefits to its members, including professional development opportunities, liability insurance, and collective bargaining representation, in collaboration with National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and other prominent labor unions.

● Strikes_and_Protests

National Nurses United has been involved in a number of strikes and protests over the years, including a 2011 strike by California Nurses Association members at Kaiser Permanente hospitals, and a 2019 strike by United American Nurses members at University of Chicago Medical Center. The organization has also participated in a number of rallies and demonstrations, including a 2017 rally in Washington, D.C. to support Medicare for All, and a 2020 protest in Sacramento, California to advocate for improved nurse staffing ratios, often in partnership with Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and other prominent labor unions. National Nurses United has also been involved in a number of high-profile labor disputes, including a 2018 contract negotiation with Dignity Health, and a 2020 dispute with Sutter Health, with support from California Nurses Association, United American Nurses, and other prominent labor unions.

● Leadership_and_Governance

National Nurses United is led by a number of experienced nurses and labor leaders, including Jean Ross, Deborah Burger, and Zenei Cortez, who have worked with prominent healthcare organizations, including American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and The Joint Commission. The organization's governing board is composed of representatives from each of its affiliate organizations, including California Nurses Association, United American Nurses, and Massachusetts Nurses Association. National Nurses United also has a number of committees and task forces, including a committee on healthcare reform and a task force on nurse staffing ratios, which often engage with National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other prominent healthcare organizations. The organization is committed to democratic governance and member involvement, and has a number of processes in place to ensure that members have a voice in decision-making, in collaboration with American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, and other prominent nursing organizations.

Category:Healthcare in the United States