Membership doesn’t cost… it pays!

1. Membership doesn’t cost… it pays!

2. This is an overview of the Florida Nurses Association. We hope that it brings an understanding of the importance of belonging to your professional organization. FNA is the ONLY organization that advocates for nurses from all specialties and practice areas.

3. FNA has a long history of nursing advocacy and activism in Florida

4. In the Early Days… The first meeting was convened on March 1, 1909 in the home of Mrs. W.W. Cummer of Jacksonville, FL. Officers were elected and at the next meeting a constitution and bylaws were crafted and committees were formed. Miss Nan O’Brien was the first President of the Florida State Nurses Association.

5. The fire was extinguished… Unfortunately, there was no activity until the late winter of 1912 when meetings were again held with the same officers as holdovers. This year, Florida sent it’s first delegate an ANA convention. In October 1912, the idea of a state convention was introduced. The first Annual Meeting was held at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce January 29-31, 1913.

6. The Early Districts • District 1-Pensacola-1899 • District 2-Jacksonville-1909 • St. Augustine formed a separate chapter • District 3-Ocala-1921 • District 4-Tampa- 1919 • Orlando forms a separate chapter • Lakeland/Arcadia • St. Pete Clearwater • Sarasota • Fort Myers • District 5-Dade County-1926 • District 6-Daytona Beach-1923

7. Some Early Highlights • 1913-1st Annual Convention –Jacksonville • 1926-Doubled the number of FNA Districts • 1950-Worked to Establish a Mandatory Nurse Practice Act • 1970- Worked to improve relationships with other health care organizations including FLN, FMA, FHA and Florida Nursing Home Association and Florida LPN Association • 1974- Undertook an initiative to rewrite the 23 year old Nurse Practice Act, The revised practice act was introduced and passed in the 1975 legislative session and signed by Governor Reuben Askew. • 1977- Collective Bargaining Program begins with over 3900 public employees. • 1981- The Florida Nurses Political Action Committee (FN-PAC) was established. • 1983- Florida Nurses Foundation was incorporated.

8. Some Early Leaders1926-1927

9. Early Advocacy One of the early contributions of FNA was to add legitimacy and standards to nursing practice by establishing the precursor to the Board of Nursing. This Group developed the first competency examination for nurses in Florida. Questions from the 1938 Exam: What benefits do you derive from being allied to any nursing organization which has for its aim the elevation and standards of nursing? What is meant by senile psychosis? Why have laws been made to prohibit spitting in public places? What kind of baths should be taken at night. Why?

10. How the Association Works Board of Directors • Elected by the membership . • Consists of an executive committee and directors • They conduct the business of the association • Create a vision for action • House of Delegates • Elected by the local districts to represent them at the biennial convention • Vote on bylaws revisions, proposals on issues of importance and set the Goals & Priorities of the Association • Staff • Manages the business as it • relates to daily operations • Carried out the work of the association as determined by the Board and the House of Delegates. • Represents the Association when needed.

11. Mission & Vision • Mission Serve and support all registered nurses through professional development, advocacy and the promotion of excellence at every level of professional nursing practice. • Vision The Florida Nurses Association (FNA) is the professional organization of first choice for all Registered Nurses in Florida.

12. Organizational Conponents • Board of Directors • Staff • Districts • Structural Units (Committees, Councils, etc) • WorkForce Advocacy Commission (WFA) • Labor Employment Relations Commission (LERC)

13. Legacy of Nursing Advocacy • Monitoring of issues related to: • Licensure and registration • Legislation and Regulatory Policies • Networking and Collaboration • Collective Bargaining

14. Biennial Convention • The biennial convention is where FNA leaders and members meet to make major decisions regarding the future of nursing and healthcare in our state. • It is also a place of gathering and networking, a necessary activity in building collegiality and coalitions.

15. When the work is done Convention can be fun….

16. Collegial Relationships We work to maintain cooperative and collegial relationships with other stakeholders in the healthcare advocacy arena. • Board of Nursing (BON) • Florida Organization of Nurse Executives (FONE) • Deans and Directors • Florida Hospital Association (FHA) • Florida Medical Association (FMA) • Specialty Organizations (Partners in Nursing) • Quality and Unity in Nursing (QUIN Council) • Florida Center for Nursing

17. This new program within the Florida Nurses Association focuses on improving the working conditions of Florida registered nurses. It is a member benefit for registered nurses not represented by the FNA collective bargaining program. Five elected commissioners serve as advocates for nurses and develop strategies to address and improve relevant workplace issues. The FNA-WFA program is a member of the national Center for American Nurses (www.centerforamericannurses.org ) with two delegate seats for representation at its annual national meeting.

18. *2005-2007 WFA Commissioners • Mary Lou Brunell, RN, ChairApopka, FL • Susan Hartranft, ARNPClearwater, FL • Martha Hanuschik, RNOrlando, FL • Barbara Russell, RNMiramar, FL • Elaine SlocumbBradenton, FL • *The first elected Commission of the WFAC

19. Labor Relations Employment Commission (L.E.R.C) The FNA Economic and General Welfare Program was adopted in 1949 In 1974-1978 Units were organized by FNA

20. FNA Registered Units • State-Unit Health Care Professionals • Shands at the University of Florida Gainesville • Wuesthoff, Rockledge • Lower Florida Keys, Key West • Lake City VA, Lake City • Miami VA, Miami • James A. Haley VA Tampa

21. Common Reasons for Organizing • Lack of Voice in the Workplace • Lack of Participation • Lack of Communication • Unfair or Unequal Treatment • Job Security • Salary and Benefit Issues

22. The Pros of Collective Bargaining • A Place at the Table • Promotion of professional autonomy • Stabilizes employment relationship- Eliminates unilateral decision-making • Provides conflict resolution mechanism

23. Labor Terms • Right to Work • Employee at will • National Labor Relations Act-NLRB

24. Right to work • An employees “right to work” is guaranteed by Florida’s Constitution and a specific State Statute • Section 6 of Article I of the Florida Constitution provides: The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. Doctrine of Employment at Will • Created by the NLRB- 5 members appointed by the President of the United States. They are responsible for administering the act. The purpose is to define and protect the rights of employee and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to eliminate certain practices on the part of Labor and Management that are harmful.

25. Rights of Employees –Section 7 • Employees have the right to self- organization, to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through the representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities or mutual aid or protection and shall also have the right to refrain from some activity.

26. Internal Organizing • FNA is currently focused on internal organizing to strengthen the existing units within FNA. • Larger membership means greater strength when negotiating contracts or otherwise advocating for members or individuals within the bargaining unit.

27. Contact information • To contact the unit representative at your site call FNA headquarters at 407-896-3261 (members may use the Member’s only toll free line) or email lhomsted@floridanurse.org. • You can also contact the unit president by going to the FNA website at www.floridanurse.org and clicking on WorkPlace Programs and then LERC. The unit presidents are listed.

28. Joining your Professional Bargaining Unit • To join request the proper application form from membership@floridanurse.org . • Collective Bargaining members join by completing a payroll deduction form. Paying dues is almost painless! • You will be a member of both the bargaining unit AND the local district. You are encouraged to be active in both.

29. How can you help? • You can serve as a unit representative. • You can recruit new members to the organization. • You can run for office at the local unit level (and/or the local district level) . • You can keep headquarters informed about the local unit activities. Have a say! Join today!

30. Publications-Communication The Florida Nurse Members Only

31. Publications-Education These publications were developed to assist the RN with their everyday work issues.

32. Publications (cont’d) It is a serious problem that people outside of nursing really lack a clear understanding of the level of education and expertise that nurses have. Legislators particularly must be aware of the highly intellectual, highly technological aspects of the nursing profession. Everyone know we care.. They need to know that we THINK as well. This publication was developed with The AD and BSN Deans and the Florida Center for Nursing.

33. Education • Continuing Education Programs State Level • Annual Clinical Excellence, Annual Chemical Dependency, Annual Public Policy, Biennial Convention and other programs • Local Continuing Education Programs through FNA districts • Speaker’s Bureau–members address FNA and other professional issues • Website- • Continuing education site online • Updated information to keep nurses abreast of the issues

34. Relationship to FNSA • FNA had a collegial relationship with our future colleagues in FNSA. This includes: • Use of headquarters for FNSA meetings • FNSA-FNA Liaison Program • Complimentary Membership for 1st year • Student Day at FNA Convention • Promotion of mentorship of new grads at the local district level

35. New Graduates • FNA values new graduates and encourages membership with these dues options: • FNSA members receive the first year of FNA membership FREE. Must apply within 60 days of graduation. • Non-FNSA members can join for ½ of the usual dues rate • FNA provides a “Survival Kit” and New Graduate Handbook to all schools upon request at graduation.

36. New Grad Survival Kit We developed these tools to help ease the transition from classroom to bedside.

37. Benefits • Belonging is important, more members means a stronger voice • FNA provides three membership levels: Local, State and National. • Benefits include: The American Nurse, The American Nurse Today, The Florida Nurse, Members Only and Nurse Practitioner Scope for ARNP’s • FNA is the political watchdog for nursing via a legislative network of nurses. Members receive up to the minute legislative information. • FNA activities provide networking opportunities,mentoring and information exchange with over 7000 members.

38. Benefits (continued) • ANA along with specialty organization has developed 23 current standards of practice to serve as a guideline for nursing practice in several specialty areas • The Florida Nurses Foundation through the generosity of fellow nurses awards grants and scholarships • A Nurses in Need Fund provides small grants to support colleagues in distress • Access to Members Only section of the FNA and ANA websites • Toll Free Members Only Phone line to headquarters

39. Public Relations/Image • FNA maintains a relationship with major media outlets and also serves as the voice of nursing with state and national media. • FNA has a focus of improving the image of the nursing profession. It is essential that the many roles of the nurse are accurately perceived.

40. Public Relations This billboard was placed in prominent locations in Tallahassee during the 2006 legislative session. This was a special public relations project for FNA to bring the legislators attention to the importance of the work nurses do. Our goal is to keep nursing in the forefront of the healthcare advocacy movement

41. Informational DVD “Florida Nursing: Today & Tomorrow” We have also developed a DVD which highlights the intellectual capacity of nurses. We will be sharing this with community leaders, high school counselors and Florida Legislators. We want them to know that not everyone can be a nurse.

42. How do I belong? • You can join online at www.floridanurse.org • Applications in each issue of The Florida Nurse • Call to request application at 407-896-3261 • Request application by emailing membership@floridanurse.org • Membership Categories We offer many options for dues payment plans

43. Fighting for safe work environment for Florida nurses and the highest quality of nursing care for the citizens we serve. To request information or ask questions: Florida Nurses Association P.O. Box 536985 Orlando, FL. 32853-6985 (407)896-3261 (407)896-9042 www.floridanurse.org info@floridanurse.org