Should I Join A Union As A Registered Nurse

13 Pros and Cons of Nursing Unions

Written By: Jennifer Schlette MSN, RN

Nursing unions accept a long and complex history, with both positive and negative effects on nurses. Nursing unions are i of the most controversial topics in healthcare. Nursing unions have been around since the 1950s, but their numbers have risen dramatically over the last few decades. There is a lot to consider when debating whether or not nurses should unionize. Practice you know what are the pros and cons of nursing unions? Do non worry if you practise not. Below you lot volition find the top 13 pros and cons of nursing unions so that y'all will be able to make up one's mind if a nursing union is suitable for y'all and your infirmary.

What is a Nursing Union?

A nursing marriage is a collaboration of nurses towards a common goal or purpose. The term "matrimony" is used to describe the group meeting. There are also professional nursing unions that bring organizations together at a national level. These groups share information near legislation, politics, and rights within the public sector. Professional nursing unions and the nursing associations they correspond assistance ensure that legislation and actions made past the government bear on nurses positively. The nurse's union is used as a group of people who work to make changes for their profession by influencing politicians or working with other registered professionals such as doctors. You lot can discover nursing unions at the local, area, land, and national levels. Unionized nurses can be found working in hospitals, schools, universities, nursing homes, and the public sector.

TOP CONS OF NURSING UNIONS

(The post-obit are the top xiii disadvantages of Nursing Unions.)

1. You will need to pay regular dues.

One of the top disadvantages of nursing unions is the regular dues that y'all volition be required to pay. When you are just starting nursing, it's easy to be lured in by all of the great promises of having a voice and being heard that unions make. Yet, when you get an honest wait at nurses' unions, they can seem more similar a big waste of money with little to no real do good for the amount of dues you volition have to pay.

2. The dues you lot pay will not be based on how many hours you lot work.

Regardless of if you work full-time, function-time, or if you lot are a per diem nurse who works 3 shifts a month, you will yet need to pay the aforementioned amount in union dues. The con of joining nursing unions is that yous will be required to pay dues no thing if you lot are working or not. So, while analyzing the pros and cons of nursing unions one important factor you lot should really think virtually is that if you do not piece of work that often you will still need to crush out the full amount in dues.

3. You must continue strike if the nursing union declares ane.

I of the cons of existence part of a nursing matrimony is that y'all must go along strike if the wedlock declares one. This means leaving your task and not going in until the issue is resolved. You will have the choice to cantankerous the sentinel line during the strike, merely if you do, there will be repercussions. Some of these repercussions tin can be getting your elected position revoked, losing all health benefits, and getting fined. The spousal relationship will also communicate this with other unions to let them know you crossed the picket line. Your coworkers may no longer be willing to help you if they know you crossed the line.

four. Yous will not exist paid in whatsoever form if you go on strike.

If the nursing marriage declares a strike, yous will not receive a paycheck for the strike elapsing. Not receiving a paycheck tin exist difficult on so many levels and is ane of the biggest disadvantages of nursing unions. Yous however have to pay your mortgage and motorcar payments, that weekly trip to the grocery store for milk and bread, and everything else in between. If you don't get paid, how will you afford these things?

v. You lot may lose health benefits coverage if you go along strike.

If y'all are a nurse and the spousal relationship declares a strike, don't forget the part where you lot lose your health benefits. What will happen if yous or a loved ane requires medical attention? If you are on strike, y'all ameliorate prepare for some pretty hefty bills coming your mode. I hope y'all prepare for debt.

vi. Seniority means y'all may be passed up for a promotion.

In a nursing spousal relationship, all of the promotions are based on seniority. In a nutshell, it does not matter if you are good at your job in a nursing wedlock. It just matters how long you have been at your job. That can exist highly frustrating for nurses who want to accelerate. This is very beneficial to the majority of mediocre nurses. And then, If yous are a nurse who is just starting out at a spousal relationship hospital, y'all take no seniority. When assessing the pros and cons of nursing unions, yous need to decide if starting out equally a low man on the totem pole is worth the reward of one twenty-four hours having top seniority.

vii. You volition have less control over what shift you piece of work.

When you are part of a nursing union, you may not control which shift you work. You lot may be unable to learn a twenty-four hours position right away and start by working the nighttime shift. If you are not accepted to working overnights, this shift will be difficult. You volition have to wait for a day position to get available and then bid on it. Keep in mind, if a more than senior nurse bids for information technology, then they will get the day position over you.

viii. Yous will have less control over what hours you work.

As a nurse who is function of a nursing union, yous will non fully dictate what days you volition exist working. Your schedule will be assigned to you. You will have to work a set number of holidays and weekends each year every bit dictated by the negotiated nursing contract. If you lot do not like the days, weekends, or holidays you were assigned, well then, I hope somebody is willing to switch with you.

9. The care of your patients may endure.

One of the cons of nursing unions is that patient care may exist compromised when a strike is called. Poor care can occur if their substitute nurse tin't do their task well or isn't trained correctly. Another problem is that incompetent nurses remain in the nursing industry considering they cannot get fired. Some of these nurses might remain incompetent and not care well-nigh the visitor they work for or their patients. That can lead to more than bug.

10. You lot may experience a dissent in the workplace

Some other one of the cons of a nursing union is that information technology may lead to dissent in the workplace. This is considering a nursing union can create a them versus us mentality. This mentality is subversive considering instead of working together and supporting each other, management and nurses who should be colleagues and fighting for the exact cause might actually turn confronting each other.

11. You could be bumped out of your position.

In the world of nursing unions, yous may call back your position is safe, but it may not be every bit ironclad as you are hoping for. You can essentially exist bumped from your current position past a more senior staff member. When an institution is laying off employees, a more than senior staff member who is about to be laid off tin crash-land a less senior staff member out of their job to preserve their own employment. This can exist seen as an unfair practice since fewer senior staff members will essentially lose their jobs.

12. You will accept to continue to work with underperforming colleagues.

In a nursing union, it is challenging to terminate consistently underperforming employees. This will lead to others picking upward their slack or the patient receiving subpar care and potentially damaging relationships inside the team.

13. Your opinion may non matter.

I of the disadvantages of nursing unions is that if y'all disagree on a specific stance that the union takes on a particular subject your single voice will not matter. You are one of many, and you are only 1 voice. So, even though yous do non agree with something, well looks like yous will exist going along with it anyhow.

Top PROS OF NURSING UNIONS

(The following are the top xiii advantages of Nursing Unions.)

1. You may receive higher wages.

One of the most meaning advantages of nursing unions is the bargaining power to ensure that yous are paid well. Nurses who are office of a nursing wedlock typically will have higher wages than nurses not part of a union. Another advantage of beingness in a nursing spousal relationship is that raises to your salary volition be negotiated for yous. You practise not have to worry virtually going through the process of negotiating your own heighten.

2. You lot may have improved working atmospheric condition.

If you are part of nursing unions, you can wait to enjoy amend working weather condition due to the negotiations that happen during your collective bargaining procedure. These ameliorate working conditions will lead to improved patient care and your own happiness at work.

3. Your schedule may be protected in certain aspects.

Ane of the advantages of nursing unions is that they can push healthcare institutions to improve weather for employees, like staffing levels and ratios and scheduling changes. A report published in the American Journal of Nursing establish that a protected schedule helped nurses reduce chronic work stress and avoid preventable medical errors. Ane of the pros and cons of nursing unions is that you will accept to consider is that yes, your schedule volition be protected, just the healthcare institution will still be able to dictate certain aspects such every bit weekends and holidays.

iv. You will accept chore security.

Job security tin can be a crucial factor in a person's life, as many people worry about the prospect of going unemployed. 1 of the nigh significant advantages of being part of a nursing union is that yous volition have job security. Most nursing unions negotiate contracts that volition shield their members from being fired without cause. Some of the almost mutual terms in these contracts are: There must be a clear and compelling reason for termination, such as sexual misconduct or neglect. A written warning must beginning be given to the employee who will face termination if their performance does non meliorate, and the employer cannot reassign y'all to other units without your consent.

five. You will accept legal representation.

As a member of a nursing union, you will be entitled to share in the benefits of representation. Suppose you are in a situation where disciplinary action may exist taken confronting you in your workplace. In that case, the nursing spousal relationship volition send a delegate to ensure y'all are treated adequately and that there is no alienation of contract. Nursing unions go a pace further, though. In certain workplace situations where you feel that your rights have been breached, the nursing spousal relationship will take legal action on your behalf to protect you lot from unfair treatment.

6. You will have ameliorate benefits.

When you lot are part of a nursing matrimony, yous will be entitled to benefits that ensure security for you and your family. The benefits you could exist entitled to include: Paid sick days, maternity leave, and time off for family emergencies. Yous may also receive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family with little to no cost. One of the summit pros of nursing unions is that these benefits that they provide volition give you peace of mind.

7. Yous may have perks to your retirement.

One of the perks of being part of a nursing matrimony is that you may be entitled to retirement benefits. Some nursing unions volition provide their members with a monthly alimony and health benefits one time they retire. These benefits will alleviate the need to financially programme for retirement and reduce any stress associated with retiring.

8. Y'all will non exist subjected to favoritism in the workplace

Favoritism in the workplace is a reality of many piece of work environments. When you are part of a nursing union, favoritism is near nonexistent. One of the pros of nursing unions is that you can expect to be treated fairly and every bit in a wedlock. In a not-unionized work environment, the manager usually has the right to cull their ain staff. This tin can create an temper where favoritism occurs. In this type of workplace, you may notice that some nurses go better schedules than others or get more than assignments to choose from than others do. A union workplace is dissimilar in this way.

9. There will be a process should a grievance arise with your employer

If an effect should arise in the workplace, the nursing marriage has put some protocols in place. The nurse, aslope the nursing matrimony, can file a grievance. A grievance is a formal accusation against someone, or something believed to be unjust or wrong. The nursing marriage will ensure that the issue is looked into and appropriately resolved. The nursing union may send someone from the board to look at your consequence seriously or if they think the hospital isn't dealing with information technology properly.

10. You lot may be able to access benefits outside of the workplace

As a member of a nursing union, you get to relish exclusive benefits such equally discounts outside of the infirmary. Some of these benefits will include discounts on travel, dining, and shopping. This is great and tin can save you a ton of money.

11. You will accept strength in numbers

One of the biggest advantages of nursing unions is ensuring that you are never going at it alone. You are part of a grouping that is in that location for each other, works together for the verbal cause, and knows what yous are going through. Remember, there is strength in numbers.

12. Your seniority will do good yous

Seniority is essentially the key to nursing unions. Seniority in the workplace can benefit y'all by protecting y'all from capricious actions and providing opportunities for advancement. Seniority impacts basically every aspect of your job, from how much y'all get paid to the benefits you receive. It will also touch on your schedule. Basically, when you lot work for a unionized institution, you will be rewarded for the longer you take worked there.

13. You lot may be able to receive free education.

Nursing unions can help y'all access education and grooming and continue you upwardly-to-date on the latest laws and regulations. You volition also take access to a plethora of continuing educational activity credits. Depending on your licensed state, you may need these continuing education credits to renew your license.

My Final Thoughts

So, what are the pros and cons of nursing unions? The pros and cons of nursing unions are a hotly debated topic. For some, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. In contrast, others would rather not take to bargain with any potential risks associated with union membership. The top xiii pros and cons of nursing unions that I have presented to you lot will help you determine if joining a union is suitable for your situation or non. The marriage could be the perfect solution for some nurses. Still, not for others, and so it'due south essential to consider all sides of the fence before making your decision on whether or not you want to join one.

Jennifer Schlette MSN, RN
Jennifer Schlette is a registered nurse in pediatric critical care in New York City. She is the former Director of Undergraduate Nursing at a college located in New York. After obtaining her BSN from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, she went on to complete her MSN.

Source: https://www.nursingprocess.org/nursing-unions-pros-and-cons.html

Posted by: pettwayflar1993.blogspot.com