I would not. I would honor what those nurses are fighting for. I don't care how much money they would offer, I will not cross a picket line.

Hospitals are now trying to be run by big business. Big Business notoriously doesn't listen or hear. The only way to make changes is to strike when all other avenues have failed.

I'm sorry you feel this way, because this is what has to happen to get hospitals to listen. This is part of all nurses standing together as a unit supporting each other. Negotiations go on for months, sometimes years and nothing is done, then a strike is called, nurses are picketing and a week or two later, the hospital makes important concessions. This is after supervisors, managers, hospital administrators actually many times are in the front lines, taking care of patients. Most if not all hospitals, send patients to other hospitals, so the census is low. No one in the institution is neglected.

to dmazment's last comment: "No one in the institution is neglected". Well, I think they are. They're not getting the care they normally would. And sending them to another hospital is inconvenient, if nothing else, for the patient and the patient's family. There should be a way to settle nurses disputes with establishments without involving and inconveniencing patient's. It's not their fault the working conditions are poor. My concern is first and foremost for the patient.

Thank you Stephanie. Now, what do you all call the AMA? They call it an association, but so does CNA, it's California Nurses Association. They banded together years ago, pay for membership, have lobbyists and clout. Without all nurses standing together, we will never have the clout physicians do. Why don't they strike? Because they have strength in their positions. Hospitals are petrified physicians will take their business elsewhere and some have, only to return to a facility.

Charlita, I've been involved in several strikes. One I was an assistant manager, so I had to cross the picket lines and believe me no one was inconvenienced other than administrators. A week before the strike date, voluntary admissions are stopped or rerouted to another facility. All elective surgeries are sent elsewhere, only emergencies are performed. I loved watching managers and adminstrators who hadn't done patient care in a long time working hard. I loved watching adminstrators clean toilets, change beds, clean rooms. I think more than anything, this actually shortened the strike and the nurses got every thing they asked for and none of it was about wages or benefits but patient care.

IF NOT ONE NURSE crossed the picket lines, strikes would be very short.

Mickey said:

right there, you admit substandard care.

LOL, I'm out

I'm very pro union, and a former CNA member. Nonetheless, I used to think I would take a job as a strike nurse: the cost is prohibitive, and the hospital really loses out no matter how you look at it. But I'm impressed by dmazement's argument. cd is right: we DO need to stick together. Administration has walked all over nurses for decades because we DON'T stick together and insist on decent treatment, decent working conditions, decent pay, and most importantly, the tools to give good care.

cdnurse said:

I would not cross it. We need nurses to stick together.

God, this is hilarious, like rams butting heads, all that results is some one gets a headache LMAO
Some unions are good, some are bad, you get what you pay for. I'm glad we don't need one.

I'm happy to hear Mickey, your facility doesn't need a union, or at least you think your facility doesn't. Other's in your facility may have a different opinion. You're a life flight nurse and this alone sets you apart from other departments. You must work as a team in order to provide the care needed.
The vast majority of nurses, do not work in a facility such as yours. They are treated unfairly, regularly abused by physicians, managers and administrators. Wages are low, mandatory overtime is the norm, routinely have no lunches or breaks, which by the way, is mandated by federal labor laws. Nurses are floated to other areas, which many feel uncomfortable or are not adequately familiar with, with complete disregard for licensure. If refused, some are suspended or summarily terminated. Some are terminated for voicing their opinions, either verbally or writing a book. Many nurses have been terminated simply because the manager or other nurses don't like them. Nurse to patient ratios, other than California are way over the top. These few things alone, are reasons enough to stand together as a united front.

CD Nurse and dmazment, I agree with both of you ! I have worked in a facility that did go on strike. Although I needed my paycheck to pay my bills , I also needed to have better work conditions with better pay, so I Did NOt cross the line! Believe it or not we received alot of support from the community. Most of the pt's families agreed with our stance and stopped by the picket line to tell us that they felt that we were justified in what we were doing! This was a small community hospital, so that may have something to do with why the pt's/families were supportive.