Literature Review

Nurses at University Medical Center vote to unionize, a Louisiana firstTimes-Picayune (New Orleans, LA)December 10, 2023LCMC Health’s University Medical Center nurses voted to join National Nurses United, the largest U.S. union for registered nurses, after a three-day vote that ended Saturday night. The union will be Louisiana’s first among health care workers. It is also one of the state’s largest, with 598 eligible members. More than 90% of eligible nurses voted in the election. Of those who voted, 82% voted in favor of the union, according to National Nurses United. ... Officials at UMC acknowledged the union and said they would “continue to work with the National Labor Relations Board and operate consistently with the processes established by the National Labor Relations Act.” ... Next, the union will be certified by the National Labor Relations Board. Negotiations and bargaining on a contract come after that. ... The union includes registered nurses who are full-time, part-time and per diem, along with clinic nurses and nurse practitioners.

As deficit estimate hits $68 billion, Newsom seeks ‘major changes’ to healthcare wage lawLos Angeles TimesDecember 7, 2023With California facing an expected $68-billion budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking “major reforms” to pull funding from a costly plan next year to begin raising the statewide minimum wage for healthcare workers to $25 an hour. ... It’s unclear whether Newsom is suggesting he would like to narrow the higher minimum wage to fewer workers, or whether he’s seeking to delay or pause implementation of the increase.

Ascension nurses begin strikesBecker’s Hospital ReviewDecember 7, 2023Nurses at three Ascension hospitals in Texas and Kansas began one-day strikes Dec. 6, marking the second strikes for each hospital this year. The strikes involve members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United. ... Union members have been in contract negotiations at the two Wichita hospitals since February 2023 and at the 391-bed Austin hospital since November 2022. They are striking to call attention to equipment and staffing issues at their organizations, according to NNU. ... “Patient safety is our top priority, and our hospitals remain open and well-prepared to continue to provide patient-centered, holistic care during these strikes,” an Ascension spokesperson told Becker’s on Dec. 6.

Rosalynn Carter advocated for caregivers before the term was widely used. I’m so grateful.By Mitul DesaiUSA TodayDecember 6, 2023It started with a story. When asked about her lifelong commitment to improving mental health services and support for caregivers, former first lady Rosalynn Carter would share her experience on the campaign trail: Exhausted caregivers urgently reaching to grab her hand. Families pleading for resources. Americans bravely sharing their stories of hurdles and heartache. From these anecdotes emerge a legacy marked by courage and compassion. A woman ahead of her time, fighting for caregivers before the term was even widely used. ... I fiscovered the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers as a vibrant resource in an otherwise desolate landscape of caregiver support. I participated in a series of workshops that RCI facilitated aimed at helping streamline the diverse experiences of caregiving into nine distinct stages. Our hope is that this new approach—which moves beyond diagnosis-driven categorization to focus instead on the types of support needed at each phase of the experience—will inform policy and practice for health practitioners, employers, policymakers and organizations serving caregiver needs.

Bitter strike over as nurses, N.J. hospital reach tentative agreementNewark (NJ) Star-LedgerDecember 2, 2023The nurses strike that lasted more than 120 days has finally ended. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital announced Friday that it has tentatively reached a new collective bargaining agreement with the United Steel Workers 4-200, which represents the 1,700 nurses who went on strike Aug. 4.

Lessons in CaregivingBy Lisa B. SamalonisNext AvenueDecember 4, 2023... When my parents, in their late 70s, became ill with several chronic and terminal health ailments, my sisters and I worked to support them and honor their wishes to age in their home. ... Like many adult children and family friends new to this process, we were unaware of everything we did not know about the complexity of safely aging in place and the available resources. ... Often, coordination of care is very challenging. ... Being a vocal advocate can help your loved one immensely. ... Yet, taking care of oneself allows one to care for others.[Editor’s Note: The author is a writer and editor based in New Jersey. She writes about health, parenting, books and personal finance.]

Kids fighting health battles take off from Dulles to the North PoleWTOP-FM (Washington, DC)December 2, 2023Dozens of kids facing tough health battles and in hospice care took a special United ‘fantasy flight’ from Dulles International Airport on Saturday. Their final destination? The North Pole, to meet Santa.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter never tried to hide the effects of growing old

Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter bring needed attention to hospice care—and questions