A Message From: Nurses Service Organization (NSO)

NSO Stands with Nursing Professionals

At Nurses Service Organization (NSO), we always have—and always will—stand with nursing professionals. In light of recent news, NSO would like to reiterate our steadfast support to the nursing profession and community. We recognize the complexities and unmatched level of responsibility that come with a career in healthcare. We understand the staffing shortages, sentiments of fatigue and burnout, and unparalleled stress that nurses everywhere have experienced, particularly in the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. We empathize with the moments where nurses may feel that the system has let them down, despite their unwavering dedication to this lifesaving profession.

Lastly, we also know that we’re all human, and sometimes we may make mistakes.

Yet, through all these trials and tribulations, nursing professionals have continued to deliver on their incredible mission of providing quality care to their patients. A sometimes difficult but very necessary part of providing care means disclosing errors when they occur.

Given recent events, we are concerned that nursing professionals may feel intimidated or fearful about divulging mistakes in their reporting and documentation. Additionally, we are concerned about the dismantling of just culture in the workplace—which highlights shared accountability and serves to support nurses and help them learn from their mistakes or participate in resolving system problems, not to discipline them. We urge nursing professionals to honor their commitment to patients with accuracy, honesty, and transparency. We will be there with you every step of the way.

At NSO, our mission is to prioritize the needs of individual nursing professionals, rather than those of their employer. Relying solely on employer coverage may not be sufficient for nurses. Our individual professional liability insurance policies include protection of licensure to help safeguard your nursing career through both the good times, as well as the more difficult moments. Our malpractice coverage reflects our unyielding support to nursing professionals everywhere.

That is why we stand with nurses, now and always.

Are Colorado Hospitals Safe? - Call to Action

A message from Colleen Casper, RN, MS, DNP, CNA Director of Practice and Government Affairs

Colleagues,

It is our intent to bring much greater awareness to all legislators of the need to address safe staffing in hospitals. The message will go to all Senators and Representatives with the title, "Are Colorado Hospitals Safe?" We want the Legislators to know that Nurses care immensely about this issues and are prepared to stay on this issue. Please share this message with your colleagues.

Call to Action

We are writing to you today with an urgent call to action to request that the Colorado State Legislator address the prolonged nurse staffing crisis.

Without action, Colorado hospitals will continue to lose nurses as a result of inadequate numbers of staff as well as inadequately prepared nursing staff to care for patients.

You have shared your stories with Colorado Nurses Association, Colorado State surveyors and multiple national surveyors and we are now asking you to reach out to you respective Colorado Senators and Representatives and respectfully request that Colorado come out of denial of the extent of this problem and address it.

Sure, Federal action could be helpful. We can not wait.

Please take the time to share this message and consider adding in your own personal stories of your work environment today. There are some that want to implore that this is all COVID-related. We know that is disingenuous at best.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

ANA Statement in Response to the Conviction of Nurse RaDonda Vaught

March 25, 2022

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Zachary Levine
[email protected]

Shannon McClendon
[email protected]

SILVER SPRING, MD-Today, a jury convicted former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse RaDonda Vaught of criminally negligent homicide and impaired adult abuse after she mistakenly administered the wrong medication that killed a patient in 2017. The following statement is attributable to both the American Nurses Association (ANA)and the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA): 

“We are deeply distressed by this verdict and the harmful ramifications of criminalizing the honest reporting of mistakes.

Health care delivery is highly complex. It is inevitable that mistakes will happen, and systems will fail. It is completely unrealistic to think otherwise. The criminalization of medical errors is unnerving, and this verdict sets into motion a dangerous precedent. There are more effective and just mechanisms to examine errors, establish system improvements and take corrective action. The non-intentional acts of Individual nurses like RaDonda Vaught should not be criminalized to ensure patient safety. 

The nursing profession is already extremely short-staffed, strained and facing immense pressure – an unfortunate multi-year trend that was further exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic. This ruling will have a long-lasting negative impact on the profession.

Like many nurses who have been monitoring this case closely, we were hopeful for a different outcome. It is a sad day for all of those who are involved, and the families impacted by this tragedy.”

2022 ANA/CNA Member Benefits

If you are an ANA/CNA premier member, please see this list of Premier Benefits with new items at the top and ongoing items towards the bottom. 

Some of the highlights include:

• A $25 credit at shopana.org
• A FREE digital copy of The Art and Science of Nurse Coaching: The Provider's Guide to Coaching Scope and Competencies, Second Edition
• Education and product discounts including an additional $100 off ANCC certification or re-certification.

Additional information will soon be available online at  www.nursingworld.org/premier.

If you are not a member, please see membership information here!