Why We Can't Wait! "The better they promised turned into feeling micromanaged, feeling scared to voice my concerns from fear of retaliation."

I have been employed at Blessing Hospital for 5 years. I started out at a Student Nurse Assistant (SNA), moved up as a Nurse Intern and then as a Registered Nurse. I also went to school through Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences, so I had the opportunity to do all of my clinicals at Blessing. I was very familiar with the hospital setting as I was hired in as a New Grad, and I loved it.

As time moved forward, I knew that it was absolutely my calling to be a nurse. Taking care of my patients and being someone they relied on while in the most vulnerable state, was a privilege of mine. I started out taking 6 patients a shift. As a new grad, that's a lot of patients to care for, yet I mustered through. Some shifts were better than others, as expected. We were told time and time again, that it would get better. We were still in COVID times, so I just KNEW it had to get better. I guess I did not expect the better they kept promising us would be a decreased retirement match, worsening benefits, and less staff. The better they promised turned into feeling micromanaged, feeling scared to voice my concerns from fear of retaliation, and the panic I felt each time I had to get up and go to work.

The better they promised was now watching my coworkers break down in the middle of a shift, hearing of new jobs coworkers were taking that were not at Blessing, and seeing my coworkers filled with anxiety the moment they stepped through the doors to work. I know something needs to change, because this is not the Blessing that I started at. This is not the Blessing that everyone wants to come to anymore. This is the Blessing that many are turning away from.

My WHY for a union?

I want to feel protected. 

I want my voice to be heard.

I want my patients to feel safe. 

I want Blessing to be OUR Blessing again.