Here’s a sobering reminder of the cost of quality patient care in this age of healthcare reform. Nursing is often thought of as a profession replete with compassion and selfless devotion to those in times of need. At this hour, here in Minnesota, it’s the collective of over 12000 nursing representing 14 acute hospitals in the Twin Cities who want to make sure that they can afford to continue to give that care so emblematic of their profession.

Nurses say the hospitals are using the weak economy as an excuse to cut pension benefits and change work rules in ways that will endanger patients. The hospitals, which are nonprofit, say that they’re merely adapting to economic realities and that patients will be fine.

Although history has shown mixed results of walkouts with demands being met on a piecemeal nature amid strong positions regarded more as posturing by other negotiating entities, the harsh general and healthcare economic realities make this current bargaining crisis a little different in its approach. Implications seem much larger, and with offers of employment with greater pay in other states where shortages loom (even in this economy), the nursing local may have an advantage if a walkout does occur. | LINK