Nursing Unions and Collective Bargaining

Over the years, the roles of registered nurses have been crucial in the healthcare system with the determination to deliver patient-centered and evidence-based care to individuals seeking care. This is in line with the responsibilities indicated by the nursing unions and aims for collective bargaining agreements entered between then and other stakeholders (Coombs et al., 2015). Besides, the majority of the union memberships in the United States has been steadily rising. This paper will discuss the roles of nursing unions and collective bargaining for APRNs.

Collaboration is one of the roles of the nursing unions and collective bargaining for APRNs that is currently expanding because of the number of individuals joining the unions. They are mandated to work with other institutions, both in the private and public sectors, to promote the quality provision of health services by their members (Coombs et al., 2015). Besides, their main role in this is to promote strength among its members through unity. In addition, they fight for fair shift lengths and allowances, which then improves patient outcomes. Thus, their roles are inevitable.

Furthermore, they work to discuss issues of wages and protection of the nurses and all individuals receiving care services from them. Various studies indicate that health facilities that work with unionized nurses have better patient outcomes than their counterparts, and they receive a better wage, which is mainly driven by collective bargaining (RegisteredNursing.org, 2019). Apart from that, the nursing unions and collective bargaining agencies have a role in the establishment of standards that define how services by the nurses can be provided. This not only helps to protect nurses from working beyond their scope but also patients from caregivers who deliver services under unfair circumstances.

Conclusively, nursing unions, and collective bargaining play a big role in promoting better patient outcomes. This is because of their roles in protection and working to seek fair services for both the nurses and patients. Therefore, their roles are inevitable in healthcare.

 

 

References

Coombs, C. K., Newman, R. J., Cebula, R. J., & White, M. L. (2015). The bargaining power of health care unions and union wage premiums for registered nurses. Journal of Labor Research, 36(4), 442-461.

RegisteredNursing.org. (2019). Do Unions Benefit or Harm Healthcare & Nursing Industries? Retrieved 3 December 2019, from https://www.registerednursing.org/do-unions-benefit-harm-healthcare-nursing/