| |
|
The OCEA Professional Nurses Caucus provides an excellent opportunity to discuss issues confronting the County's professional nurses.
|
| |
|
 |
Correctional Medical Services Licensed
Vocational Nurses (CMS LVNs)
HCA management and the CMS LVNs established a working group that began meeting in October, 2007, to address serious work issues. The focus of the group became a single project to try and determine if their work schedules could be modified to be a facilities-based 3/12 schedule, to mirror the schedules of the CMS RNs. Despite months of hard work, the effort was finally determined by management to not be feasible at this time.
Click the image to the left to read our response. |
|
OCEA's letter of thanks to HCA regarding "2008 Nurses Appreciation Month"
June 5, 2008
Lisa Bauer, Human Resources Manager
Orange County Health Care Agency
405 W. Fifth Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Maureen Robles, Institutional Health Services Manager
Orange County Health Care Agency
405 W. Fifth Street, 7th Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Re: 2008 Nurses Appreciation Month
Dear Ms. Bauer and Ms. Robles:
I want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the assistance and cooperation of HCA staff in this year’s OCEA efforts to recognize the nurses, including the nurse practitioners and nursing assistants.
When we took delivery of the lunch bags at OCEA, it seemed like an overwhelming task to distribute them to all of the County’s locations, especially the correctional institutions. This turned-out not to be the case, as the last delivery of 150 bags to nursing staff at the main jail was facilitated by staff who met us at our hot dog visit, cart in tow, to take the bags inside.
On behalf of OCEA and its member nurses, thank you both for helping to make this such a pleasant experience for everyone.
Sincerely,
ORANGE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
Loretta van der Pol
Senior Labor Relations Representative |
|
Important Information for Community Public Health Nurses:
As all of you probably know, OCEA and HCA were involved in a meet and confer process on a proposed new policy and Quality Assurance Tool. In our second meeting today, HCA agreed to withdraw their proposed survey in favor of developing a method to more accurately obtain the quality of care and services information needed. The three members of OCEA's team who participated in today's meeting - Paula Beau, Debbi Bennett and My-Thuc Crisanto - will now be part of a project committee to develop an instrument that would be more accurate and better received.
Kudos to our nurses who did all of the hard work that was needed for the intelligent presentation and justification of our position!
Loretta van der Pol
Senior Labor Representative
(714) 835-3355 |
|
April 18 , 2008
HCA and OCEA Nurses Classifications Modernization Project
In the last round of negotiations, HCA and OCEA had a placeholder for further discussion of modernizing the nurses classifications. The discussion was initiated in February 2008, and became a committee that expects to be working on this project for about two years, due to its scope.
This project will involve attempts to make the County's classifications, which were adopted in the late 1970s, more consistent with the descriptions and duties recognized by both the private and public nursing communities. Recruiting has been a problem in general due to the state's nursing shortage, but more specifically in HCA due to outdated descriptions of job duties and likely market issues. Recruitment postings are based on this established information, much of which is not understood by nurses who have entered the profession in the last fifteen years or so.
The committee is now researching classification structures in the public and private sectors. This task will provide the basis for the rest of the work to follow. Once there is a complete draft of the proposed changes, OCEA and HCA are likely to reopen negotiations on the comprehensive proposal.
As a part of this project, HCA and OCEA members of the committee went to the California State University, Fullerton, for a tour of its new Nursing Simulation Laboratory. The experience was an eye-opener as a demonstration of the technology now available for providing nurses the most comprehensive training possible without having to use human subjects. The program is currently being offered to undergraduates, but there will be a Master's program in the very near future.
The laboratory simulates a real hospital, without a surgical simulation, which is also anticipated for the near future. The robotic "patients" have features that are as close to human as possible, such as skin, anatomical structures, and physical responses to injuries and illnesses. Depending on which part of the program is being taught, specific simulation areas are used for practice. Nursing students learn everything from drawing blood and inserting IVs to delivering babies and performing emergency triage. Some of the "patients" can talk, with a remote technician initiating specifically designed scenarios and reacting to the treatments undertaken by the students. Correct routine patient maintenance and equipment safety procedures are also taught by example.
It is hoped that another tour can be scheduled for committee members who were not available to attend.
Loretta van der Pol
Senior Labor Representative
(714) 835-3355 |
|
|
March 28, 2008
As you know, OCEA and HCA have been meeting for three months on the agency’s proposal to eliminate the 9/80 work schedules for nursing staff in Juvenile Health due to budget cutbacks. The OCEA team included Carmen Reynolds and Stacey Northcutt.
Regrettably, in our meeting on March 27, 2008, HCA announced its decision to implement the 5/40 effective with the May work schedule, which will be posted in April. The change will also impact the Senior CCNs.
There was agreement that OCEA and HCA would meet again in January, 2009, to discuss the impact of the schedule change on employees.
Additionally, the discussion included assurances of the following:
Nursing staff are to submit vacation and other time off requests as normal;
- All nursing staff will submit their overtime for processing, scheduled or unscheduled, without fear of retaliation; and
- Supervisors and managers will be instructed to ensure that nurses working overtime at the beginning and end of their shifts will be instructed to record it for processing.
|
|
|
March 4, 2008
NURSES APPRECIATION WEEK: Nurses Appreciation Day is on May 6, 2008. OCEA will work with the nurses to distribute red and black insulated lunch bags. The Hot Dog wagon has been scheduled for two of the large sites that week.
MEET AND CONFERS --
Special Diseases Clinics: The proposed elimination of the 9/80 work schedules at the Special Diseases Clinics should be decided in the next few days. OCEA and HCA met for the second time on March 4, 2008 and management will provide its response in writing.
Nurses Classifications: The team that met to discuss the intent of the proposal to modernize the nursing classifications and series has evolved into a working group that will meet approximately every other week for the one to two years to research and discuss changes that could be made to the nurses’ classifications/series to bring them into better conformance with the current nursing community. A letter to this effect was mailed-out by OCEA last week, describing that this process will be stopped if it begins to develop into a product that could harm, rather than benefit our members.
Behavioral Health Budget Cuts: OCEA and HCA are in the process of trying to schedule a second meeting. This proposal is requires more urgent action, due to the state of HCA’s budget.
Juvenile Health 9/80 Work Schedule: OCEA and HCA will meet for the third time on March 4, 2008. There is no decision yet.
Juvenile Hall Camps Elimination of 9/80 Work Schedules: OCEA sent HCA a demand to meet and confer when it was discovered that nurses working in the camps had had their 9/80 work schedules taken away from them about two years ago. This was done without the use of the meet and confer process.
Quality Assurance Audit for Field Workers: This policy was suspended in Community Health pending the outcome of the meet and confer process.
The next meeting will be held on April 1, 2008 at 12:00 noon at OCEA. |
|
|
February 26, 2008
Discussions on the Modernization of the Nursing Classifications' Series
During the negotiations for the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Healthcare Professional Unit, there was an agreement to meet and confer on the possibility of making changes to the nursing classifications. Very little discussion about this matter took place at that time, and we didn't know the County's intentions.
We met with HCA management briefly for the first time on February 8, 2008, and talked about some very general ideas and timelines. In our second meeting, on February 20, 2008, we were more specific in discussing the County's goals, which we indicated we are willing to study, with certain reservations.
The County's Goals:
- Make the current classifications more recognizable to outside candidates for nursing positions;
- Structure the series in ways that offer more opportunities;
- Update the way the job specifications are written, so the minimum qualifications conform to qualifications and standards in the general nursing community; and
- Provide for recognition of an employee's qualifications and skills as they are updated and/or improved and as transfer opportunities allow.
Note: HCA management stated that with this project, it was not the County's intent to transfer nurses at-will between programs. OCEA requested a more formal assurance from management before putting too much energy into this project.
There was also discussion about studying "Best Practices" in the nursing community, as well as taking part in a tour of the Nursing Simulation Center at Cal State Fullerton.
If this goes well, it is expected to take one to two years before there is a "product" to roll-out to all of you. If it doesn't go well, we'll stop working on it immediately, and you'll all be notified.
Either way, we will be providing you with periodic progress reports by mail, as well as posting updates on the OCEA website. The committee/working group will meet every other week at OCEA. Committee members are:
OCEA |
HCA |
Loretta van der Pol |
Lisa Bauer |
April Barrio |
Debbie Chitty |
Carmen Reynolds |
Mary Davis |
James Hersch |
Jennifer Canzoneri |
Jo Ann Calder |
Lori Giancola |
Nancy Redler |
|
Pam Ickes |
|
Phyliss Munoz |
|
Rhena Carusillo |
|
Susan Johnson |
|
If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them with us. We're in the process of surveying other counties, the state, and the private sector. If there are questions you'd like for us to address as we do our research, please e-mail them to me at lvanderpol@oceamember.org.
|
February 5, 2008
The meeting topics primarily involved the discussion of the HCA subjects being dealt with through the meet and confer process, particularly as they affect nurses.
Juvenile Health: HCA has proposed eliminating the 9/80 nurses work-schedules at Juvenile Hall and at Orangewood. The input received from the impacted employees was overwhelmingly against the change. A serious issue involving management conduct caused OCEA to protest, and the second meeting ended early. The next meeting will include representation from both facilities and will be held at OCEA.
Special Diseases Clinics: HCA has proposed eliminating the 9/80 work schedules at the Special Diseases Clinics. Again, the input received from the impacted employees was overwhelmingly against it. The second meeting is in the process of being scheduled and will include as close representation of the classifications of employees working in the clinics as operationally possible. This meeting is in the process of being scheduled.
Nurses Classifications: The most recent round of negotiations resulted in the tabling of a County proposal to “modernize” the nursing classifications and series. A team was formed during the fall and meetings will begin on Friday, February 8, 2008. We don’t know what the Agency’s intent is yet and will keep everyone updated.
Behavioral Health Budget Cuts: Another round of cuts will affect Behavioral Health. HCA has held positions and does not anticipate layoffs. The meet-and-confer process on impact will begin on February 13, 2008. A team representing the three facilities proposed to be closed is being assembled.
Other issues discussed were introduced by OCEA and included: 1) the numerous changes in policies and procedures that are being reported; and 2) speculation about hiring and promotions.
Research is being conducted in both areas, especially as they may involve violations of the meet-and-confer process or County rules.
Clarification was provided about the 5-year and 10-year Longevity Bonuses. Employees who already had 10 years or more of service at the time the MOU went into effect were not eligible. The County’s reasoning behind refusing retroactivity was that the intent was to prevent losing newer employees. Employees with more than 10 years of service are not leaving in any significant number.
The next meeting will be held on March 4, 2008, at 12:00 noon at OCEA.
2008 Meeting Schedule
The meetings of the OCEA Professional Nurses Caucus are all held at OCEA from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room. All professional nurses are welcome to attend! Just notify Loretta van der Pol, OCEA Senior Labor Relations Representative, ahead of time so we can arrange the lunch. We look forward to seeing you!
March 4, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 6, 2008
June 3, 2008
July 2, 2008
(Holiday week—vacation scheduling may require cancellation)
August 5, 2008
September 2, 2008
(Holiday week—may require cancellation)
October 7, 2008
November 4, 2008
(Election Day)
December 2, 2008
(Holiday lunch meeting)
Loretta van der Pol
Senior Labor Relations Representative
Orange County Employees Association
P: 714-835-3355
F: 714-835-7654
E: lvanderpol@oceamember.org
 VCF - Loretta van der Pol
| Differentiating Between
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Leave and Professional Conference Leave |
Over the last few years, OCEA has received several calls from supervisors and line staff alike regarding the application and use of Continuing Education Unit Leave and Professional Conference Leave. Mainly, how the annual time allotments of these two fringe benefits differ from each other.
Continuing Education Unit Leave provides nurses employed by the County of Orange with 30 hours of paid time each two years towards the completion of any course accepted by the Board of Registered Nursing for recertification. These courses are not limited solely to those directly related to the nurse’s line of work. In fact the intent of CEUs as posted on the Board of Registered Nursing website is to “enhance the knowledge of the RN at a level above and beyond that required for licensure and practice.” If you or a co-worker are having difficulties attaining either the time-off to attend CEU courses or approval for the requested course on the basis that is not job related please contact your OCEA Labor Relations Representative Loretta van der Pol at (714) 564-3247.
Professional Conference Leave allots nurses a maximum of three working days each fiscal year to attend job-related conferences relevant to their field of practice. These conference leave days can be used consecutively or separately throughout the year depending on the conference. Professional Conferences which provide CEU courses must have the appropriate certification materials/documentation submitted within two weeks following the conference (to the Staff Development liaison).
OCEA encourages its nurses to exercise these two negotiated benefits in order to increase their knowledge of the nursing field and thus raise the bar of service and quality of care for the County's residents. |
|
