Ohio Nurses Review - December 2020

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nurses Association www.ohnurses.org 

OHIO NURSES 

Volume 95, Issue 4 

December, 2020 

Review 

www.ohnurses.org | Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | 

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OHIO NURSES Review 

The Ohio Nurses Review (ISSN 0030-0993) is the official 

publication of the Ohio Nurses Association, 3760 Ridge Mill 

Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026, (614) 969-3800. Indexed in International 

Nursing Index and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health 

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Published by ONA Staff and Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency 

Inc., PO Box 216, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Layout and Design: 

Chris Hall 

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MISSION STATEMENT – The mission of the Ohio Nurses 

Review is: To advance professional nursing practice in Ohio in 

service of quality health care. 

Articles appearing in the Ohio Nurses Review are presented 

for the information of our members. They are not intended as 

legal advice and should not be used in lieu of such advice. For 

specific legal advice, readers should contact their legal counsel. 

Copyright © 2020 by Ohio Nurses Association. 

ONA BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2019-2021 

OFFICERS 

Deborah Arms, PhD, RN, President, Groveport 

Carol Roe, RN, MSN, JD, First Vice-President, Cleveland Heights 

Jacinta Tucker, MSN, RN, Second Vice-President, Midvale 

Joyce Powell, RN, BSN, CEN, Secretary, Cuyahoga Falls 

Annie Bowen, MSN, RN, CPN, NE-BC, Treasurer, Pataskala 

DIRECTORS, UNSTRUCTURED 

Paula Anderson, RN, Westerville 

Gina Severino, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, Canfield 

Benitha Garrett, MSN, RN, North Olmsted 

Jamie Burchett, BSN, RN, New Franklin 

DIRECTORS, STRUCTURED 

Rick Lucas, RN, BSN, OCN, VA-BC, CCRN, New Lexington 

Iris Marcentile, BSN, RN, CPAN, Coshocton 

Jessica Frymyer, RN, BSN, CNOR, Orient 

Michelle Thoman, MSN, RN, Cincinnati 

Robert Weitzel, RN, BSN, Harrison 

NEW NURSE 

Holly Renninger, RN, BSN, Uniontown 

ECONOMIC & GENERAL WELFARE COMMISSIONERS 

Jessie Frymyer, Chair 

Orient 

Robert Weitzel, Co-Chair 

Harrison 

Iris Marcentile, Secretary 

Coshocton 

Michelle Thoman 

Cincinnati 

Rick Lucas 

New Lexington 

Alex Watts 

Dublin 

Ashlee Severs 

Negley 

Barbara McGhee 

Tallmadge 

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| Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | www.ohnurses.org 

COUNCIL ON PRACTICE 

Kris Cope, DNP, RN, NE-BC, 

Co-Chair 

Sharon Hawkins, MPA, MSN/ed, 

RN, Co-Chair 

Paula Anderson, RN 

Benitha Garrett, MSN, RN 

Laurie Hornberger, RN 

Kenneth Quick, BSN 

Holly L. Renninger BSN, RN 

Deborah Schwytzer, DNP, RN-BC, 

CEN 

CONTINUING EDUCATION 

COUNCIL 

Barb Brunt, MA, MN, RN, NPD-BC, 

NE-BC (chair) 

Tahnee Andrew, MSN, RN 

Lucinda Cave, MSN, RN, BC 

Stephanie Clubbs, MSN, RN-BC, CNS 

Susan Copeland, MS, RN, BC 

Beth Griebel, MSN, BSN 

Amy Knupp, PhD, RN, 

APRN-CNS, CPSS 

Melanie Morris, MBA, BSN, 

RN-BC, CCRN-K 

Diane Moyer, MS, BSN, RN 

Laura Rafeld, MSN, RN 

Gail Rhodes, MS, BSN, RN, OCN 

Deb Shields, PhD, RN, CCRN, QTTT 

Sue Smith, RN, MSN, CCHP-RN 

Pam Dickerson, PhD, RN-BC (MS, 

BSN, FAA, (Liaison for ANCC) 

Nancy Campbell, MSN, RN-BC 

(Liaison for Indiana) 

ONA STAFF 

Lisa Ochs, CEO 

Tiffany Bukoffsky, Director of 

Health Policy 

Carolyn Carmack, Labor 

Representative 

Bob Cousins, DEO of Labor 

Relations 

Michelle Donovan, 

Communication and 

Development Coordinator 

Alex Gehrisch, Membership 

Controller 

Dennis Dugan, Labor 


Jessica Dzubak, Director of 

Nursing Practice 

Dodie Dowden, Assistant to CEO 

Molly Homan, Director of 

Communications and Marketing 

Technology 

James Humphreys, Organizer 

HEALTH POLICY COUNCIL 

MEMBERS 

Yvonne Smith, PhD, APRN, CNS 

(Chair) 

Sara Arter, Ph.D, RN 

Kelly Duffey, RN 

Peggy Halter, PhD, APRN 

Rick Lucas, BSN, RN 

Shelly Malberti, DNP, RN 

Jeri Milstead, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN 

Teresa Monnin, MSN, RN, WCC 

Genevieve Richard, BSN, RN 

Gina Severino, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC 

Carol Smith, RN 

Jacinta Tucker, MSN, RN 

Linda Warino BSN, RN 

Robert Weitzel, BSN, RN 

Teresa Wood, PhD., RN, NEA-BC 

ALTERNATES 

Peggy Berry, PhD, RN, COHN-S, 

CLE, PLNC 

Tiffany Mattingly, RN 

OHIO PUBLICATIONS 

COMMITTEE 

Barb Brunt, MA, MN, RN, NPD-BC, 

NE-BC, Editor, Akron 

Alyssa Mauser, BSN, RN, Akron 

David Foley, PhD, MSN, RN-BC, 

CNE, MPA, Parma 

Jeri Milstead, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, 

FAAN, Dublin 

Kristine Cope, DNP, RN, NE-BC, 

Columbus 

Lucinda Cave, MSN, RN, BC, Cleveland 

Sangita Koparde, Organizer 

Angie Lemery, Business Office 

Administrator 

Cathy McClelland, Finance 

Manager 

Anne Mueller, Labor 


Anne Ransone, Deputy Executive 

Officer - Operations 

Kelli Schweitzer, Senior Director of 

Professional Practice 

Robin Smith, Membership 

Controller 

Sandy Swearingen, Continuing 

Education Specialist 

Brittany Turner, Nurse Planner 

Lisa Walker, Health Policy and 

Nursing Practice Specialist 

Rachel Wolfe, Assistant to DEO, 

Labor Relations

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

By Deborah Arms, PhD, RN 

Seasons Greetings ONA Members, 

The theme of this ONR is Nurses Caring for Themselves First 

Care for Others. In this month of giving, I think it is a perfect 

time to give a gift to yourself. 

It has been a very trying year for all of us, but especially trying 

for those of you working on the frontlines taking care of very 

sick patients. We have heard of the instances of the lack of PPE, 

staff, and any relief in our hospitals from the continuing wave 

of sick patients coming through our doors. Naturally this takes 

a toll on all of you and I have heard numerous cases of nurse 

burnout. 

In addition, nurses with family have been dealing with virtual 

schooling for their children which is very stressful for a variety 

of reasons. I don’t know about you, but I was Zooming with my 

granddaughter trying to help her make a pincushion for her life 

skills class while her mother was in the other room working 

from home. Thank goodness she did not ask me to help her with 

her 7th grade math problems. 

For the elderly family members, their isolation is a worry and 

takes a toll on us as we try and stay connected as best we can. 

These are just of few examples of the caregiving we as nurses 

take on not just in our jobs but with our family as well, whether 

we have children, grandchildren or taking care of our elderly 

parents. 

If we do not take care of ourselves we will not be about to give 

our best in our job and in our personal life. We know that the 

pandemic is not letting up anytime soon, therefore I suspect 

many of us will not be with family and friends over the holidays. 

While that is not ideal, it can also be blessing for us to take the 

time for ourselves. Focusing on your mental health through 

meditation, yoga, reading a good book, taking a walk, sewing or 

crafting, and even playing board or card games with your kids 

while you are staying at home can bring some calm to a very 

hectic time. Whatever you do, I ask you take at least one day to 

pamper yourself. It is imperative that we as nurses get better at 

resting and relaxing so that we can be recharged and ready to go 

for the new year. 

Have a safe and relaxing holiday! 

All my Best, 

Deb Arms 

CONTENTS 

CEO’s Message................................................. 4 

2020 Year in Review 

Health Policy Council............................. 6 

Caucus on Advancing Nursing 

Education.................................................. 8 

E&GW.......................................................... 9 

RNA...........................................................10 

Environmental and Community 

Health Caucus (ECHC).......................... 18 

CE Council............................................... 19 

Council on Practice............................... 19 

Caring During COVID-19: Being a Home 

Health Nurse in a Pandemic...................21 

Low Staffing Levels Leads to Increased 

Risks for Nurses...........................................22 

Annual Dues Increase..................................22 

Nurse Wellness in 2020...............................23 

Take Care of MYSELF???...............................24 

What’s New on CE4Nurses?.......................25 

AFT PPE Bus Tour...........................................26 

2021 Convention...........................................30 

AFT Benefits....................................................31 


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CEO’S MESSAGE 

By Lisa Ochs, CEO 

Dear ONA Members, 

As the year 2020 comes to an end, we cannot help but reflect on 

the difficult and good times of the year. 

The World Health Organization named 2020 The Year of the 

Nurse and I know we all had great anticipation. As the year 

2020 approached, our organization looked forward to what the 

new year would bring and how ONA would celebrate the great 

work of our nurses. We learned quickly that indeed 2020 would 

be the Year of the Nurse and nurses would be the lifeline across 

the world. 

As we approached March and were preparing for a sold-out 

Nurses Day at the Statehouse, COVID-19 came to the forefront. 

It quickly became clear that we would need to cancel our event. 

Although we were unable to hold Nurses Day at the Statehouse, 

we were actively engaged in the General Assembly; especially 

regarding COVID-19 and HB 144. 

During mid-March, ONA staff were on calls with the 

Governor’s office and CDC to gain the latest information 

surrounding the virus. Our staff worked diligently to provide 

the latest information regarding COVID-19 and toiled through 

PPE challenges that were facing our bedside nurses. We held 

tele-town events to hear from our members and to help them 

navigate the impact the virus was having on their jobs and their 

health. We were fortunate to have experts in the area of human 

resources, employment law and healthcare to assist our many 

members who were experiencing legal and financial challenges 

as a result of the virus. 

help our nurses stay safe. Through their generosity, we were able 

to provide surgical masks, face shields, wipes and other PPE. 

Unfortunately, ONA was unable to secure N95 masks. 

In October, we were fortunate to receive 10,000 N95 masks 

from AFT to share with nurses across the state. We are grateful 

to AFT and all organizations that were able to help our nurses 

who were helping everyone else. 

The Year of the Nurse was a year of adapting to the “new 

normal.” Our academic nurses were challenged to provide 

virtual classes to prepare our future nurses. Somehow, they rose 

above the difficulties and managed to find a way. 

Not only were our academic nurses challenged to work virtually, 

ONA was forced to adapt with staff working remotely while 

cancelling some events and offering new ones. Among events 

cancelled was the Special House of Delegates meeting slated 

for October. With the “new normal,” ONA made the decision 

to offer almost all CEs free to our members and utilization 

dramatically increased. Our ONA Board of Directors worked 

through these unprecedented times by holding virtual board 

meetings to fulfill their responsibilities, complete strategic 

planning and continue to move the organization forward. 

2020 has truly been the Year of the Nurse and our country saw 

firsthand why nursing is hailed as the most trusted profession 

year after year. While this year has been difficult, I have been 

privileged to work for an organization that serves such an 

honorable profession. 

As COVID-19 grew in strength, so did the resolve of our bedside 

nurses who worked day and night to help our communities’ most 

vulnerable. While many of our nurses worked in hospitals, many 

became ill with COVID-19. And yet, they healed and went back 

to work to help those in need. Many of our bedside nurses stayed 

away from their families to keep them safe from the virus. To 

assist them, we were able to provide gift bags with toiletries 

from generous donors on Amazon Smile. Staff put bags together 

for our nurses on the frontline. 

There was a great deal of chaos around COVID-19 and our 

nurses were greatly impacted with PPE shortages. Our nurses 

were going into battle with an invisible enemy and they 

didn’t have the PPE needed to protect them. The Ohio Nurses 

Foundation Board was committed to donating funds to purchase 

PPE and other needs. Through ONF, we were also able to team 

up with companies such as Homage and Arlene’s Candles to 

4 | Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | www.ohnurses.org


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YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 

Health Policy Council 

(Information provided as of October 16, 2020) 

By Tiffany Bukoffsky, MHA, BSN, RN 

In the midst of a global pandemic, the Health Policy Council 

(HPC) has continued to work diligently over the past year 

to review legislation introduced in Ohio’s 133rd General 

Assembly. The Council has supported the review of and offered 

recommendations for oral and written testimony that was 

provided on behalf of ONA in various committees. 

In 2019, HPC worked with ONA’s contract lobbyists, staff, ONA 

leadership, Representative Don Manning, the Ohio House of 

Representatives and interested parties to reintroduce mandatory 

overtime language as House Bill 144. HB 144 is a bill aimed 

to prohibit the unsafe practice of nurse mandatory overtime as 

a condition of employment and would add Ohio to a list of 18 

other states that prohibit the same practice. If passed, HB 144 

would allow nurses to choose if and when to accept overtime 

without fear of retaliation by their employer. During the first 

half of the General Assembly, HB 144 successfully made its 

way through the first chamber and was voted out of the House 

of Representatives on December 11, 2019 by a vote count of 

80-13. During the second half of the General Assembly, HB 144 

received both sponsor and proponent testimony in the Senate 

Transportation, Workforce, & Commerce Committee and ONA 

is currently working with the Senate leadership and members 

of the committee to pass the bill out of the second chamber and 

have it signed by the Governor before the year’s end. 

HPC worked to oppose Senate Bill 131, which is a bill that 

aims to change the title of registered veterinary technician 

to registered veterinary nurse. This bill is one that ONA 

fought to oppose last General Assembly (HB 501) and it has 

been reintroduced this legislative session. The bill has had 

two hearings in the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources 

Committee. ONA launched a full-blown grassroots campaign 

where over 2,000 connections have been made with the 

committee members, asking them to oppose SB 131. Because 

of ONA’s grassroots efforts, SB 131 has not received another 

hearing during the second half of this legislative session. 

Carol Roe, ONA 1st Vice President provided proponent 

testimony on Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 (SCR 14), which 

would declare racism as a public health crisis and asks the 

Governor to form a taskforce to look at health outcomes as it 

relates to minority populations. Ms. Roe testified in the Senate 

Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee on June 9th, 

2020 and she provided information regarding ONA’s structure 

as it relates to the Legislative Platform approved by the ONA 

House of Delegates, as well as the improvement of health 

standards and access to quality health care for all Ohioans. 

Additionally, Ms. Roe spoke about health equality, equity, and 

justice. SCR 14 was introduced on June 2nd, 2020 and was 

referred to the Senate Health, Human Services & Medicaid 

Committee on June 3rd, 2020. The resolution has received two 

hearings to date and over 150 Ohio citizens and organizations 

have provided support for the resolution. 

ONA provided written interested party testimony for House 606 

and Senate Bill 308, which grants civil immunity to a person 

who provides services for essential businesses and operations 

for injury, death, or loss that was caused by the transmission of 

COVID-19 during the COVID-19 state of emergency. HB 606 

passed both chambers and will take effect on December 16th, 

2020. 

The Council and staff have been working closely with Senator 

Tim Schaffer, one of two sponsors of Senate Bill 348. SB 

348 speaks to local boards of health and requires nurses to 

serve on boards of health across the state and allows health 

care professionals who serve on a board of health to receive 

continuing education credits. The bill was introduced on 

August 4th, 2020 and was referred to the Senate Health, Human 

Services and Medicaid Committee, where it has received 

one hearing to date. HPC worked with Senator Schaffer to 

successfully amend the bill to include “registered nurse and 

advanced practice registered nurse” to the definition of licensed 

health care professional. 

Many of the bills ONA’s policy team and the Health Policy 

Council have been tracking this year, as it relates to the 

pandemic, include language specific to workers’ compensation, 

occupational disease coverage, hand hygiene, civil immunity, 

price gouging, and COVID-19 testing and response. Of all 

COVID-19 legislation, ONA was most heavily involved in 

House Bill 673, a bill aimed to extend the temporary nursing 

license for new graduates through July 1, 2021. The ONA policy 

team began working with the bill’s sponsor Representative 

Roemer, the Speaker of the House’s policy staff and the Ohio 

Board of Nursing (who was also not supportive of the bill’s 

language) to amend the nursing-specific language. In less 

than three weeks’ time, the bill was favorably reported out of 

committee and was scheduled for a House floor vote. ONA 

was made aware the evening before the House floor vote and 

swiftly took action, pulling together an official opposition letter 

based on comments from ONA’s Health Policy Council and 

sent it to the House leadership immediately prior to the House 

session starting. HB 673 was scheduled to be the second bill 

heard on the House floor and ONA continued to advocate for 

an amendment to address concerns. The policy team spent 

the afternoon on the phone and in conversations with the 

House Democrats and Republicans and because of the strong 

opposition from ONA, the Speaker stopped House session 

and went into recess for two hours. ONA quickly drafted an 

amendment with Representative Jamie Callender and the Ohio 

Legislative Service Commission. The amendment was not only 

accepted by the Speaker and the House leadership, but passed 


your member 

Complete 

at: 

survey 

with full support on the House floor. The amendment language 

ensures that in order to get a temporary nursing license, a new 

graduate cannot have failed the licensing exam, been convicted 

of a felony, or failed a drug test. If a license is issued and any 

of the above has occurred, that license is to be suspended. It’s 

unheard of to stop the House session, but ONA was successfully 

able to do so for two hours! This goes to show the true power 

of ONA and the relationships the organization has built with 

colleagues in the House. ONA will continue working on the bill 

with the Board of Nursing in the Senate to address additional 

concerns. The bill awaits its first hearing in the Senate General 

Government and Agency Review Committee. 

Senate Bill 341 and House Bill 765 are two bills that ONA staff 

and HPC have been monitoring closely. Specifically, ONA has 

been working with Senator Kristina Roegner, the sponsor of 

SB 341. This bill would allow Ohio to join the nurse licensure 

compact. Prior to both bills being introduced, the ONA Board 

of Directors reviewed and reaffirmed ONA’s Position Statement 

on Multistate Nurse Compact Licensure in July of 2020. Senator 

Roegner had reached out to the ONA policy team to let ONA 

know that she was interested in introducing a bill to allow Ohio 

to join the Compact. ONA staff shared the reaffirmed Position 

Statement with her office and offered to meet with her regarding 

ONA’s position. During the same timeframe, staff and lobbyists 

informed the Health Policy Council of the Senator’s intent. 

Additionally, staff reached out to the Ohio Board of Nursing and 

have continued to keep in close contact with the Nursing Board 

regarding this issue. HPC and staff swiftly gathered information 

and the HPC discussed the bill once it was introduced on July 

21st, 2020. The discussion offered insight from all members 

on the Council and the Council discussed ONA’s Position 

Statement, questions and concerns regarding an Interstate 

Commission not based in Ohio, and what could and could not 

be achieved through bill amendments. Since its introduction, 

the ONA Board and HPC has taken this bill seriously and 

began compiling a list of questions that have been shared with 

Senator Roegner. ONA continues to work with stakeholders in 

the legislature, the Ohio Board of Nursing, the National Council 

State Boards of Nursing and other interested parties to address 

these questions. Lastly, the ONA staff are working together to 

keep the Board and HPC abreast of changes and will formulate 

an FAQ sheet as well as update ONA’s Position Statement 

to be considered by the ONA Board. ONA will update the 

membership on the progress of this bill. This bill will likely be 

reintroduced by Senator Roegner in the next General Assembly. 

Ohio is the only state in the country that does not license 

hospitals and Governor DeWine made comments to the press 

in 2019 that he would like to accomplish hospital licensure 

during his tenure. Over the past year and a half, ONA staff and 

lobbyists have met with the Governor’s Health Policy team twice 

and the Ohio Department of Health once to discussion what 

hospital licensure would look like and what can be accomplished 

through statute and rule. ONA staff continue to research hospital 

licensure in other states and what systems already exist in Ohio. 

houses all of ONA’s campaigns in one location. The ONA 

advocates have grown by roughly 3,200 and ONA connections 

with lawmakers have grown by 12,500 over the last year! To 

date, over 5,400 advocates have signed up to be a part of the 

Action Center and over 19,200 connections have been made with 

legislators, letting them know what nurses care about most. 

The Health Policy Council met virtually in August to make 

strategic decisions regarding the upcoming November elections. 

The Council approved financial contributions to lawmakers 

who support the profession of nursing and ONA held three 

virtual fundraisers where ONA Board and HPC members spoke 

with lawmakers from the House Democratic party, Senate 

Republican party, and Senate Democratic party. 

Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, ONA had to cancel this 

year’s Nurses Day at the Statehouse (NDASH) and Advocacy 

Academy. The Health Policy Council and ONA staff are excited 

to plan NDASH 2021, which will be held virtually to keep 

nurses, nursing students, and lawmakers safe during this global 

pandemic. 

2021 will surely be a year of additional growth, activism, and 

protecting nurses and patients throughout Ohio. The 134th 

General Assembly, which will begin on January 1st, 2021, will 

bring its own set of priorities for the state and a new Health 

Policy Council will begin their incredible work with this new 

legislature at the same time. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HV7MLKN 

This year was exceptionally busy, with ONA’s grassroots 

presence at an all-time high. ONA staff have continued to use 

Phone2Action, a grassroots platform to push all grassroots 

campaigns using social media, patch-through phone calling, 

and making connections with legislators through email. ONA 

launched the Ohio Nurses’ Action Center two years ago, which 


7


Caucus on Advancing Nursing Education 

By Barbara Welch, MS, RN, Chair & Mary Beth Mathews, PhD, RN, Vice Chair 

Purpose: 

The purpose of the Caucus on Advancing Nursing Education 

(CANE) is to engage in educational, supportive, collaborative, 

regulatory and legislative activities that advance the academic 

education of the Ohio nurse workforce pursuant to directions of 

the ONA House of Delegates and the ONA Board of Directors. 

Members: 

Doris Edwards, EdD, RN Chair (resigned 10/20), Barbara 

Welch, MS, RN Chair, Mary Beth Mathews, PhD, RN Vice 

Chair, Detrice Barry, PhD, MSN, MEd, RN, Jill Burd, BSN, 

RN, Ella Kick, PhD, RN, Carol Roe, MSN, RN, JD, Nancy 

Savage, PhD, Sharon Stout-Shaffer, PhD, RN. ONA Staff 

members Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN and Lisa Walker. 

Meetings and reports: 

CANE met 4 times and sent 5 requests for action to the ONA 

BOD. 

Select activities: 

1 Facilitated orientation of new CEO to CANE’s purpose, past 

activities, and issues of ongoing concern. Established goals 

for the biennium: 

a Seek opportunities for collaborations which advance the 

ONA Position Statement on BSN-in-Ten as the standard 

for nursing education in the U.S. 

b Facilitate engagement of ONA members who identify as 

nurse educators via ONA Connect to facilitate networking 

about the role of nurse educator 

c Examine current practices related to faculty/nurse 

educator workloads and working conditions. 

d Provide resource materials on current issues for nurse 

educators and preceptors 

e Follow up on implications of HOD Reference Proposal #6 

f 

regarding cost-free clinical sites. 

Reach out to other state nursing organizations about 

current issues in nursing education. 

2 Communicated to ONA leadership our support for finding 

a national solution to mandatory overtime and assuring safe 

staffing such as influencing rules promulgated by a national 

agency like the U.S. Department of Labor or OSHA to 

protect the health of nurses and the safety of the public. 

3 Requested to be assigned to work on ONA Reference 

Proposal #6 related to cost-free clinical sites. To date no 

action has been taken. 

4 Communicated to ONA leadership our concerns regarding 

OBN being authorized to license new graduates without 

NCLEX results because of workforce needs created by 

COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to identify steps that 

could be taken to mitigate any untoward effects. 

5 Reviewed ONA’s BSN in 10 Position Statement and sent 

recommendation to ONA BOD for re-affirmation. (Position 

Statement re-affirmed by ONA BOD in June 2020). 

6 Endorsed the ONA Executive Statement about relaxing 

licensure rules to meet the workforce needs during the 

pandemic, and recommended for action by the ONA 

BOD the following additional measures to safeguard new 

graduates, colleagues, and patients: 

a. Deploy furloughed nurses, RN and LPN, to direct care 

roles before hiring new graduates who have not taken 

NCLEX. 

b. Advise new graduates to explore options for their own 

professional liability insurance before accepting a position 

in direct patient care. 

c. If necessary to hire new graduates, assign them to support 

roles in lieu of assignment to care for acutely ill patients 

given the reality that orientation and mentoring resources 

are limited by emergency conditions which include 

shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

d 

Affirmed importance of continuing the work of CANE’s 

Task Group on Nurse Educator Workload (members: 

Detrice Berry, Nancy Savage and Barb Welch) 

7 Prepared letter and requested approval from ONA BOD to 

send to AACN requesting that the AACN Essentials Task 

Force reconsider its decision to remove the Health Policy 

Domain from the CCNE accreditation standards. We urged 

that Essential V: Healthcare Policy, Finance and Regulatory 

Environments be retained. 

8 Prepared survey to be shared with ONA members who 

are in nurse educator roles and other nursing professional 

development colleagues in all settings to determine the 

challenges they are facing because of the pandemic and 

identify needs with which CANE members and their 

networks might assist. 

9 Reaffirmed commitment to establish lines of 

communication with other nurse educator groups in the 

state in support of supporting educators experiencing 

challenges created by pandemic restrictions. 



E&GW 

By Bob Cousins, DEO of Labor Relations at Ohio Nurses Association 

I would like to start this article off by thanking the Economic 

and General Welfare (E&GW) Commissioners for all of their 

hard work this year: Chair, Jessie Frymyer, RN, BSN, CNOR 

Co-Chair, Robert Weitzel, RN, BSN Secretary, Iris Marcentile, 

BSN, RN, CPAN Rick Lucas, RN, BSN, OCN, VA-BC, CCRN 

Michelle Thoman, RN Alex Watts, BSN, RN, PCCN Barbara 

McGhee, RN Ashlee Severs, RN 

I would also like to thank the E&GW Program Staff for their 

hard work: Labor Representatives: Carolyn Carmack, Brandon 

Marlow, Anne Mueller, Dominic Mendiola, Dennis Dugan 

and Kristen Bailey. Organizers: Sangita Koparde and James 

Humphreys. Executive Assistant: Rachel Wolfe. 

Nothing comes easy in the labor movement. However, this year 

has been exceptionally challenging. The continued attacks on 

worker rights from extreme right-wing groups like the Buckeye 

Institute and the Freedom Foundation are at a fevered pitch. The 

eroding of workers’ rights continues under the anti-worker Trump 

Administration. Then, to add to all of this, a global pandemic. A 

pandemic, that at the time of the writing of this article has infected 

over 8 million people and has killed over 218,000 people nationally. 

In the state of Ohio, we have seen over 176,000 cases (11% of those 

healthcare workers, including ONA members) and over 5,000 deaths. 

At the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 it became 

very clear that this country was/is not prepared to handle a 

pandemic of this magnitude. First and foremost was (and still 

is) the shortage of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), 

concerns about a shortage of critical medical equipment and 

other supplies, and the lack of clear CDC guidelines. 

From the onset of the pandemic, ONA members have been seen 

in national and local news advocating on behalf of all nurses 

and healthcare professionals. They spoke about the lack of PPE, 

the inadequate guidelines from the CDC and unsafe working 

conditions. They fought hard to pressure the Trump administration 

to invoke the Defense Production Act. They fought hard to pressure 

Congress to pass the Heroes Act. Our members attended an AFT 

townhall meeting that featured Dr. Fauci in which our members 

were able to ask questions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Additionally, 22 members attended the AFT virtual convention. 

At this convention E&GW Commissioner and OSUNO President 

Rick Lucas had a conversation with former VP Joe Biden about 

COVID-19 and the lack of proper PPE. Within our locals our 

members have fought hard for safer working conditions, increased 

access to PPE, and paid time off in the event a nurse was not able 

to work, just to name a few. Working with our national affiliate, 

the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) we were able to secure 

over 200,000 pieces of PPE for our members. Additionally, our 

members were still on the front lines successfully advocating 

for our members through grievances and contract negotiations. 

Although not an exhaustive list, some of the highlights include: 

· In Lima, ONA was successful in an arbitration ruling that 

resulted in over $70,000 in back pay and ended a policy that 

amounted to unpaid incremental on-call. 

· In Alliance our members were able to fight off attempts by 

the employer to remove vacation and sick time usage. The 

local has relentlessly fought the ever changing COVID-19 

procedures that they believe to be unfair and unsafe. 

· In order not to divert from their important role of COVID-19 

notifications and contract tracing, the nurses at the Cuyahoga 

County Board of Health negotiated a contract extension with 

management and also negotiated to get temporary help for the 

nurses to relieve schedules that were at maximum. 

· At UH Geneva it became clear the importance of having 

negotiated benefits. While other UH facility employees 

suffered cuts to wages, retirement contributions and hours, 

the unionized nurses at the Geneva facility did not. 

· The nurses at the Visiting Nurses Association were able 

to work with management on ways to increase nurse 

retention, established more flexible scheduling and were 

able to negotiate a COVID-19 differential for nurses who are 

expected to see moderate to high risk patients. 

· The apheresis nurses at the University of Cincinnati 

Hoxworth Blood Center ratified their contract in February 

2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. They 

were able to secure competitive wage increases, payment 

for time spent preparing for procedures and premium pay 

for reporting in inclement weather to perform procedures. 

They travel all over the Tri-State Area providing lifesaving 

treatments to patients in need. 

· 2020 was a big year for the Transplant Coordinators at the 

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. During 

COVID-19, the Transplant Coordinators at the Ohio State 

University Wexner Medical Center continued to work at 

a record-breaking pace to provide care for pre and posttransplant 

patients. In June, they began negotiations for our 

fourth contract. In October Transplant Coordinators ratified 

a two-year agreement that provides for raises even during 

COVID-19, includes per diem Coordinators for the first 

time, and has many other improvements. 

· COVID-19 hit hard, with OSUNO nurses being responsible 

for corrections facility patients in addition to community 

patients. Their strong contract and active membership 

helped avoid layoffs or furloughs, and many OSUNO nurses 

stepped into different roles during the height of the crisis to 

help out their peers. While not immune to PPE shortages, 

they were also able to successfully win improved PPE 

standards. On July 1, even with COVID-19, the contractual 

staffing ratios (4:1 M/S, 3:1 PCU, and 1-2:1 ICU, among 

others) were mostly successfully implemented, adding 

hundreds of new ONA members to our ranks. 

Our members from OSUNO and Transplant joined forces to advocate 

for raises for all staff that work at the Ohio State University Wexner 

Medical Center, not just for the nurses who work there. 

Although this has been a challenging year to say the least, ONA 

members have risen to the occasion. As actor Denis Leary once 

said, “crisis doesn’t create character; it reveals it.” And during 

this pandemic our nurses at ONA have revealed heroic character. 


9


RNA 

By Michelle Thoman, MSN, RN, RNA President 

September 3, 2020- Long time Union Activist, Community and 

Nurse Advocate, former RNA officer Annie Hamilton Retires. 

RNA celebrates her long tenure as an early RNA member and 

forever voice for nurses at UC. 

October 15, 2020- RNA helps California Casualty celebrate Jen 

Patrick winner of the Nurses Night Out drawing. 

July 8, 2020- RNA President Michelle Thoman Joins Cincinnati 

Federation of Teachers (fellow AFT local) at a rally outside of 

the Sen. Rob Portman’s office to advocate for workplace safety 

for nurses and urge the Senate to pass the Heroes ACT. 


May 6-12, 2020- Nurses week looked a little different this year, 

however RNA still celebrated nurses. We continued on with our 

second annual basket raffle and delivered much needed face 

shield wipes from ONA. 

www.ohnurses.org | Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | 11

May 6, 2020- For the Second Year in a row, at the request of 

RNA the City of Cincinnati has made an official Proclamation 

that it was National Nurses Day in Cincinnati. 

May 1, 2020- Due to graduation cancellations RNA Nurses on 

6NW celebrate former co-op students and pca’s graduating from 

nursing school and becoming our newest RNA members. 


April 28, 2020- As a show of solidarity and fight for workers' 

safety, RNA participated in the call from AFT to honor Worker’s 

Memorial day by filing complaints with OSHA brought forward 

by our nurses about unsafe working conditions in the face of 

COVID-19. 

greatest concern in the midst of a global pandemic. This letter 

was featured in the Cincinnati Enquire News article highlighting 

workplace safety and financial concerns frontline health care 

workers are experiencing in the region. 

Dear Bev, 

Almost two years ago to date the RNA nurses of UCMC 

implored that you be our voice and advocate to management at 

the bargaining table. In your tenure at UCMC we must say time 

and again you have really disappointed us. 

During these unprecedented times when nurses are faced 

with putting ours and our families lives on the line to care for 

patients both our economic welfare and general safety should be 

your greatest concern. 

We understand that nursing leadership may not be able to 

answer all of the employment questions that RNA/ONA has 

raised- however you should be asking those same questions. 

We need to be assured that nurses have a seat at the table and 

the correct people are in the room if there is ever a chance of 

collaboration. 

The nurses at UCMC are gravely disappointed by your 

censorship of our nurses and Union leaders during the labor 

management committee meeting this morning. 

Many times during this meeting both yourself and HR spoke 

about the need to ensure that the organization is taken care of. 

We will say to you- the way to do this is to ensure that the front 

line healthcare workers in our organization are taken care of. 

On the agenda for LMC were not only employment issues but 

also workplace safety concerns that desperately need to be 

addressed. To abruptly end a meeting not even 30 minutes into 

the call because you “Don’t like the forum” or the questions 

being asked is both immature and negligent towards your staff. 

Union leaders have attempted to collaborate and discuss 

both the safety and employment affects of COVID-19 with 

both you and HR since the end of January. It is time you take 

responsibility for your careless actions and provide real 

answers and solutions to the concerns raised by nurses. It 

is dangerous and reckless to continue down the path that 

UCMC administration has chosen to follow so far during this 

unprecedented time. For the safety of our patients, our staff, and 

our community, we insist that you take immediate action to truly 

collaborate with RNA and to do your part as a nursing leader 

to assist the frontline nurses who are the heart and paycheck of 

this organization by doing the following: 

#1. Be transparent with RNA regarding levels of PPE and 

numbers of nurses exposed, quarantined and infected. 

#2. Fix the Sign-up Genius to allow all nurses the ability to 

fairly and equitably attempt to fulfill their FTE. 

April 20, 2020- RNA Officers and Board write and open letter 

to CNO Bev and nursing administration, publicly calling for 

nursing administration to have nurse safety, and welfare be their 

#3. Advocate for nurses in the workplace to implement the 

maximum PPE precautions available and optimal staffing levels 

throughout the hospital. 


#4. Provide the front-line nurses of the RNA an equal and 

informed seat at the table to discuss the issues facing them 

during this unprecedented crisis. 

March 27, 2020- RNA President Michelle Thoman spoke at 

frontline roundtable with Vice President Joe Biden. During this 

discussion cincy nurses concerns about exhausting their hard 

earned PTO bank were elevated with the question: 

“When nurses are being placed off of work and have run out 

PTO so they are not being paid, and they start defaulting on 

mortgages and being unable to afford groceries or student loan 

payments, what should the government do to help them?” 

January 23, 2020- RNA wraps up its Make-A-Wish Fundraiser 

campaign with a special event to help grant Alex’s Wish. Joining 

RNA member’s were members of Alex’s family and the Make- 

A-Wish Support Team! 

March 23, 2020- RNA Float Pool nurse Shannon 

Lively shares her thoughts with the community on the 

importance of visitor restrictions to help keep frontline 

healthcare workers and patient’s safe. https://www. 

cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/03/23/coronavirusohio-masks-gear-federal-stockpile-arrive-but-theyrenot-enough/2903850001/?fbclid=IwAR3o1Q-TwzVL_ 

LiMAhJZaTb2EpVtkAP5N1H7umZdV7snJatbf8GFTHPablE 

March 4, 2020- New RNA delegates to the Cincinnati AFL- 

CIO Central Labor Council Aileen Harms and Jen Hunt are 

sworn in at the monthly meeting. 

October 17 & 24 2019- RNA members hear the call and get 

involved in supporting our Union Brothers and Sisters in 

Chicago. 

January 30, 2020- In response to outbreaks of the Coronavirus 

and the testing of two students at Miami University, RNA/ONA 

issued a formal information request to UC Health, surrounding 

the Medical Center's infectious disease preparedness. 

RNA advocates to ensure, that we as nurses are prepared and 

given the proper education, equipment, and tools to not only 

safeguard our health and safety but that of our co-workers and 

patients at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. 


October 12 2019- RNA Vice President Tina Arrona received 

the outstanding local unit leader award and all RNA Members 

received the Adversity Award during this year's ONA 

Convention! 

October 10, 2019- RNA Celebrates Member Tim Collier, 6S 

(cardiac) appointment as a board member to the Cincinnati 

Board of Health. 

September 10, 2019- RNA nurses and our community allies 

continued to fight to so we have a voice in the workplace and 

for our patients! We let UCMC know that we are Proud Union 

Nurses and We Won’t Be Silenced. 


16 | Ohio Nurses Review | Volume 95, Issue 4 | www.ohnurses.org 

September 2, 2019- RNA Members joined local labor unions 

at the annual AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic and helped provide 

community screenings through the Million Hearts Program.



Environmental and Community Health Caucus (ECHC) 

By Lucinda Cave MSN RN NPD-BC, Chair 

“The purpose of the Caucus on Environmental & Community 

Health (ECHC) is to engage in education, support, collaboration, 

regulatory and legislation surveillance, and activities that create 

awareness, education, and understanding for the Ohio nurse 

workforce and the ONA Board of Directors on environmental 

and community health issues and injustices.” (ECHC Purpose 

Statement & Functions). 

To fulfill our purpose, ECHC benefits from ONA networking, 

tying together the environmental/community health interests 

and actions of individual members, the caucus group and 

increasingly, ONA as a whole. 

Recent Interests and Actions of Individual ECHC Members 

Peggy Berry PhD, RN, COHN-S, CLE, PLNC: 

A2Z Plastics – has educated worldwide on the health and 

economics of plastic, especially the adverse effects. 

ReImagine Appalachia - economic federal outreach to increase 

green jobs, broadband expansion, repairing the land from 

extraction industries, and regeneration of the land through a 

conservancy corp. 

Freshwater Future - have done several Zoom education 

activities of the health issues associated with toxic algal blooms. 

Promoting clean water. 

League of Women Voters (LWV) - Greater Dayton Area: will be 

teaching on PFAS over Zoom. 

LWVOhio and Sierra Club: gave them a work instruction how to 

decrease COVID-19 exposure while registering voters - gave a 

cleaning routine. Working to rescind HB 6 

Peggy encourages ONA and members of ECHC to address bills 

on health, as well as nursing issues. 

Lucinda Cave MSN RN NPD-BC: Alliance of Nurses for 

Healthy Environments (ANHE) Climate Champion, Healthcare 

Without Harm/Physicians for Social Responsibility Climate 

Ambassador. Presents programs to healthcare professionals on 

climate and health. 

Deb Martz RN: Was in charge of lead poisoning program at 

Akron City Health Dept. 

Alyssa Figueroa BSN RN: Belongs to Citizen’s Climate Lobby 

and is working with U.S. Legislators to support the Carbon 

Dividend Act. In Ohio, Alyssa is working on efforts to repeal 

HB6. 

Janet Reeves RN: Has been active in many environmental issues 

for many years. Recently, she has encouraged local Farmers’ 

Market vendors to set out cardboard boxes to reduce the use of 

plastic bags. She is becoming interested in vaccine hesitancy 

and seeks to promote use of safe vaccines. 

Marilyn Webster MSN RN: Has worked with Single Payor 

Action Network (SPAN) focusing on access to health insurance 

and she promotes green living. 

Actions of ECHC: 

ECHC members had noted the increased use of plastic shopping 

bags during COVID-19, with some stores even prohibiting 

reusable cloth bags. After online research, with BOD knowledge 

and support, ECHC embarked on a Cardboard Box Campaign 

to reduce the amount of plastic released to our landfills and 

environment. ECHC asked ONA members to: 

1. Use reusable shopping bags and containers if allowed, 

keeping them clean, and bagging their items. 

2. Use cardboard boxes provided by some stores if reusable 

containers are not allowed. 

3. Encourage that stores make their cardboard shipping boxes 

available at no cost for customers to use instead of plastic. 

4. Encourage that stores allow customers to use reusable bags 

once again during COVID-19. 

ECHC provided links to information about COVID-19 safety 

and shopping bags, and a letter template for sending to stores 

requesting that they resume allowing reusable bags. 

We realize individuals can make a difference in the tremendous 

environmental issues that affect us, but that the voices and 

efforts of many working together can make an even greater 

impact. We look forward to working with ONA on future 

environmental/community health issues. 

Rosemary Chaudry PhD RN MPH MHA: Was in charge of first 

letters that went out to Medicaid providers about lead testing for 

children. Joined ANHE. Is a Climate Reality Leader. 



CE Council 

By Kelli Schweitzer, MSN, RN, NPD-BC 

Grateful for returning members this biennium and the addition 

of three first time members, Nancy Sue Smith MSN, RN, 

CCHP-RN, Amy Knupp, PhD, RN,APRN-CNS, CPPS, and 

Beth Griebel, MSN, RN . In addition, we have a new Indiana 

liaison, Nancy Campbell MS, RN-BC. Each has completed 

the training to be Nurse Peer Reviewers for approved provider 

applications and are doing well. 

The CE Council was active in the testing and success of new 

application software for Individual Activity Applications. As 

the largest CE approver among CSNA’s, ONA manages over 

700 applications per year that are each independently reviewed 

by a trained Nurse Peer Reviewer. When ONA was notified 

that the current software would no longer be supported they 

then transitioned to a new platform ONAapply. ONAapply has 

resulted in greater efficiency for applicants, reviewers, and staff 

processes. 

ONA supports 184 organizations as approved providers that 

apply every three years to maintain their status. two CE council 

members review each application. This year the CE Council has 

reviewed 58 applications. 

To maintain their competency as Nurse Peer Reviewers each 

CE Council member completed the Nurse Peer Reviewer 

retreat CE offering and participates in CE Council meetings. 

In addition, they maintain their knowledge of ANCC criteria 

by participating in our yearly Provider Update and Nursing 

Professional Development, NPD, conference which were both 

offered virtually this year. We are grateful that Barb Brunt,MA, 

MN, RN-BC, NE-BC, CE Council chair, was able to speak this 

year at the NPD conference 

ONA launched a new CE4Nurses website that gives member 

ease of access to free CE. CE council members Barbara Brunt, 

Lucinda Cave, MSN, RN, BC, and Melanie Morris, MBA, BSN, 

RN-BC, CCRN-K, have contributed content for the site. 

Council on Practice 

By Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN 

During this challenging year, the 2019-2021 Council on Practice 

has been working hard staying up to date on the rapidly 

changing issues affecting nurses in Ohio. With a new Council 

and new Reference Proposals from the 2019 Convention, the 

Council has been evaluating priorities and identifying ways to 

support the professional development of ONA members and 

provide nursing practice resources for Ohio nurses. 

Some activities the Council has participated in this year: 

Revised ONA Position Statements which were re-affirmed by 

ONA Board of Directors 

Reviewed and discussed five-year chapter rule reviews for Ohio 

Board of Nursing 

Identified Immunizations Reference Proposal as priority – 

began working on campaign to increase awareness and promote 

immunizations in Ohio communities 

“Serving as co- chairs, we have had the privilege of exploring 

how registered nurses could circumvent back to the most basic 

skills of the profession. Addressing immunizations, social 

justice and the pandemic has allowed us to realize that we 

nurses can change the world in which we live, the communities 

in which we live and secure the future of being a registered 

nurse as one who teaches, encourages protection of the village 

and looks at the social determinants in light of the health of a 

nation.” 

Kris Cope and Sharon Hawkins 

Members 2019-2021: 

Co-Chairs: 

Kristine Cope, DNP, RN, NE-BC Sharon Hawkins MPA, MSN/ 

ed, RN 

Members: 

Paula Anderson, RN, Benitha Garrett, MSN, RN, Laurie 

Hornberger, RN, Kenneth Quick, BSN, RN, Holly Renninger, 

BSN, RN, Deborah Schwytzer, DNP, RN-BC, CEN 

Staff: 

Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN, Lisa Walker 



Caring During COVID-19: Being a Home Health Nurse in a Pandemic 

By Jessica Dzubak, MSN, RN 

Interviewee: Shauna Pavel, BSN, RN 

Hearing about Shauna Pavel’s experience as a home health nurse 

during the COVID-19 pandemic reminds me of the reason why 

nurses are the most trusted profession, year after year. Despite 

the challenges brought on by this public health crisis, nurses like 

Shauna are resilient – showing up every day, protecting their 

patients and showing compassion in a chaotic time. 

What is your background and current nursing role? How long 

have you been in your current position? 

I have been in health care for 10 years. I became a caregiver at 

a senior group home at 18. Then became an STNA and worked 

at a SNF/LTCF for a few years while I was working on my BSN 

at Ursuline College. My last year of nursing school I worked at 

Cleveland Clinic - main campus in neurology where I eventually 

transitioned into my RN job. Now, I am an RN Case Manager in 

the medical-surgical department of my home care agency. I have 

been doing this for over three years now. 

What do you like most about being in home health? 

It may sound simple, but I like the environment. When you 

provide care in the home you are working on the patient’s turf, 

on their terms, unlike the hospital or another facility. They are 

more comfortable, the food is better, they are getting better 

quality sleep, they have more help. When they are happy, I 

see better outcomes. They are more willing to listen to my 

recommendations because they want me there. They HAVE to 

be in the hospital; they don't HAVE to have home care. We are 

optional. They chose it; they know it's what they need to prevent 

[them from] going to a facility. There is something really 

rewarding taking care of someone for weeks, months, years at a 

time and watching them heal from beginning to end. You don’t 

get that in the facilities. 

How has your work/daily routine changed or been impacted by 

COVID-19? 

What’s clear throughout Shauna’s interview is the selfless 

compassion of nurses to care for others, despite the risk and 

impact on their personal lives. When Shauna’s home care 

agency asked for volunteers to be trained for COVID-19 care, 

she volunteered without a second thought. “I volunteered not 

even considering [I would be] putting my fiancé at risk and [that 

I’m] not able to hug my parents,” Shauna said. 

By the end of March, I was on the COVID-19 "Swat" team. There 

are only a few of us on the team that had to deal with policy change 

after policy change until we mastered how to perform an in-home 

COVID-19 positive visit without contaminating ourselves, our cars, 

equipment, etc. I am also one of the few nurses that are trained to 

test employees and patients. So being on the Swat team means I 

have to do my regular job as a case manager, while also being super 

flexible so I can be where I'm needed for a swat team job. All while 

not infecting myself or my other immunocompromised and highrisk 

patients. The stress from March-May was unreal. Luckily my 

fellow swat nurses are incredible and we are a well-oiled machine 

now. Each COVID-19 associated visit or testing is a 2-nurse 

process, so we work really closely 

together and communicate constantly. 

Shauna, like many nurses, struggled 

with the fact that many patients 

wanted to be discharged from home 

care before a single visit or refused 

hospital or physician care out of fear. 

Surgeries were postponed, so patients 

lived with pain, wounds, and other 

conditions that only worsened with 

time. The inherent desire to care 

for and help others that drives us as 

nurses is what makes witnessing this so hard. 

I have also noticed 

the need to go above 

and beyond to make 

my patients feel 

safe...I have to be 

aware of their fears 

and address those 

first. 

What have been some of the barriers or challenges you’ve 

experienced lately because of COVID-19? 

There is the constant struggle of needing PPE. Our company has 

a solid amount to keep us all safe, but it is organized inventory 

style and you only get so much at a time, and you have to fill out 

forms to get it. It feels very “this is your portion, make it last.” 

While Shauna reports feeling safe and prepared now, she 

remembers navigating a difficult time in March when the 

pandemic first hit and companies were struggled to get stocked 

up on PPE. 

I understand the process, I respect it... It’s just a foreign concept 

for nurses who are used to going to a supply room, stocking our 

(multiple) pockets in our scrubs with whatever we need and keep 

moving. 

Shauna shares an important point that often gets overlooked 

when thinking about how this virus has impacted our lives. The 

human response and connection, which nurses are so attuned 

to, has changed drastically. A difficult aspect to these changes, 

Shauna is explained, is that “I don’t hug my patients when they 

hit a milestone, like I normally would.” 

Beyond considering safety factors to protect themselves, nurses 

like Shauna consider the impact it has on those they care for: 

I have also noticed the need to go above and beyond to make my 

patients feel safe. I show them my face before I enter their house 

and don my PPE, I warn them on the phone that I have to dress 

up crazy and not to be alarmed. I have to be aware of their fears 

and address those first. I have to screen people for risk factors 

all the time I sometimes feel like a robot, and that’s not the type 

of nurse I ever want to be. 

I make sure to share with my patients what me and the company 

are doing to protect them, and I am harder on my patients about 

infection control and staying home. 

While it is upsetting to hear about the difficulties both patients 

and nurses are experiencing, we can all take comfort knowing 

there are many nurses like Shauna out there doing the best they 

can to make patients feel safe while providing the quality care 

they need, no matter what. 


Low Staffing Levels Lead to Increased Risks for Nurses 

By Georgia Reiner, Senior Risk Specialist for Nurses Service Organization (NSO) in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. 

There’s a strong correlation between nurse staffing levels and 

patient outcomes. When a nursing unit is understaffed, nurses 

may unintentionally provide patients with suboptimal care and 

make more frequent mistakes, simply as a result of the increased 

constraints on their time. Higher rates of nurse retirement and 

other trends – like the aging Baby Boomer generation – are 

augmenting these staffing shortage challenges and resulting in 

risks, particularly burnout, to nurses. 

Understanding these challenges can help improve nurses’ career 

longevity and reduce medical errors and burnout. The risk 

experts at Nurses Service Organization (NSO) identified key 

risks for nurses as a result of staffing shortages: 

• Longer hours. Shifts often stretch at the last minute. This 

can lead to increased fatigue, weakened mental acuity, and 

the opportunity for an error increases. When combined with 

increased patient ratios, nurses have more opportunities to 

inadvertently make mistakes and injure those they serve or 

themselves. Longer hours can also lead to job dissatisfaction 

and burnout, which stresses healthcare teams and staffs. 

• Increased likelihood of “floating.” The nursing shortage 

creates gaps in coverage and the need for additional nurses 

to ‘float.’ However, when nurses are assigned to an area 

they are unfamiliar with, or when a team of nurses has a 

professional from another department entering their unit, 

it can create confusion and disrupt workflows. Workplace 

dynamics will continue to evolve as facilities move nurses 

as needed to address shortages. 

• New nurses entering the workforce. As more nurses 

retire, a steady stream of new nurse will need to enter 

the workforce to fill those gaps. These new nurses will 

need experience, on-the-floor training and mentoring to 

acquire the skills needed to master their environment and 

responsibilities. 

• More responsibilities. Nurses are at the center of patient 

care, and often act as an advocate between patients and 

physicians, and patients and their family and friends. Nurses 

are increasingly responsible for facilitating the coordination 

of care and providing informed discharge instructions 

for patients. This leaves room for the potential to impact 

outcomes and nurses’ exposure beyond the facility walls. 

• Intensified patient loads. The Affordable Healthcare 

Act has increased the number of individuals with health 

insurance, including individuals who have multiple 

comorbidities, who once used to only seek treatment when 

necessary through the ER. A larger and more complex 

patient load, coupled with inappropriate staffing levels, can 

threaten patient health and safety. 

As the country continues to see an increase in the number 

of people aged 65 and up, as well as more nurses entering 

retirement, a nursing shortage will continue to be a concern. 

Nurses must be aware of their increased risk of facing liability, 

and know how to protect themselves and their careers. 

Annual Dues Increase 

The ONA bylaws call for an annual dues escalator calculated by 

determining the average percentage salary increase negotiated 

by ONA for its bargaining unit members as of October 1st of 

each year. For 2020, this increase is 4.014% and is effective 

January 1, 2021. 

For monthly electronic dues payment payers: Effective January 

1, 2021 your monthly dues will increase by the following 

amounts: 

Non-Collective Bargaining 

Full Rate: $1.65 

First Year Rate: $.83 

Retired Rate: $.42 

Collective Bargaining 

Full Rate: $2.13 

First Year Rate: $1.07 

AFT (Collective Bargaining Only) 

Full Rate: $.25. 

*No Dues increase for AFT at this time 

If you have questions about the annual dues increase, please 

contact Cathy McClelland at cmcclelland@ohnurses.org. 


Nurse Wellness in 2020 

By Brittany Turner, MSN, RN 

2020 has tested our resiliency as a society, and the nursing 

profession is feeling the brunt of it. Nurses find themselves in 

the midst of an exacerbated mental health crisis and realizing an 

increasing need to speak out against racial health inequities, all 

while simultaneously battling a global pandemic that has taken 

over nearly every aspect of life. But then again, nurses are used 

to juggling competing priorities. Everywhere you look you will 

see a nurse successfully caring for their patients and families, 

even in these most trying times. 

However, at what cost? 

Prior to 2020, nurse wellness was already a concern. The 

Health Risk Assessment, conducted by the American Nurses 

Association (ANA) from 2013 to 2016 identified key data that 

indicated “the health of America’s nurses is worse than that 

of the average American” (ANA, 2020). That is a staggering 

realization. However, when looking at the reasons behind 

this, such as shift work and long hours, workplace violence, 

occupational injuries, and higher than average stress, a clearer 

picture of ‘why’ emerges. 

The ANA ‘Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation’ initiative was 

designed to improve nurse wellness and outlines five key areas 

that nurses can address to improve wellbeing: physical activity, 

rest, nutrition, quality of life, and safety. Nurses can join the 

program and complete a health assessment to get information 

about individual health risks. From there nurses can join 

challenges to address identified risks. Get started at www. 

HealthyNurseHealthyNation.org 

In addition to ‘Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation,’ you can take 

advantage of other free or reduced cost resources for mental 

health and resiliency through ANA. 

• Type “ANA Wellbeing Initiative” in the search bar of your 

web browser to find the Coronavirus | Well-Being Initiative | 

Mental Health | ANA page. 

o 

This resource offers tools nurses can use to address stress, 

mental health, financial wellness, and grief. 

• Type “ANA Nurse Suicide Prevention” in the search bar 

of your web browser to find the Nurse Suicide Prevention/ 

Resilience page. 

o 

This is an easy to navigate webpage with resources 

divided into the following categories: 

- Getting the help you need now 

- Mental health promotion and suicide prevention 

- Greif, bereavement, and healing in the aftermath of 

co-worker suicide 

- Suicide attempt survivors 

Both of these ANA resources can help nurses who are 

struggling under the pressure this year has brought, and can 

help equip those who are not struggling to be a resource for their 

colleagues and friends. 

The Ohio Nurses Association also offers resources for nurse 

wellness. A variety of continuing education is available that 

addresses health and stress management / burnout at www. 

CE4Nurses.org. Also, members of ONA can join ONA Connect 

for the opportunity to engage with other nurses and benefit from 

peer support. 

If your health has suffered during this pandemic, take advantage 

of these member resources to get your health back on track. If 

it hasn’t, be a support to a nurse peer in their journey. If all of 

Ohio’s over 200,000 nurses focused on their wellness, and role 

modeled that behavior for their peers, family and friends, we 

would quickly see a healthier Ohio. 

Ohio Nurses Association 

Events 2020-2021 

Event Dates 

Save the date: 

Virtual Nurses Day at the Statehouse (NDASH) 

March 10, 2021 

More details to come. 

Please visit CE4Nurses.org for recently added CE programs. 

Stay Tuned for the Labor Institute 


Take Care of MYSELF?? 

By Jeri A. Milstead, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, an issue has become a focal point: as 

nurses, we have to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. 

This truth is, we should do this as human beings and not just a health 

crisis but every day. This article will present some realistic ideas about 

how we can do this: 

1. Eat well – Nurses know what we should eat in order to be healthy. 

We’ve had nutrition courses and, perhaps, have even counseled 

our patients on the food pyramid or plate or whatever model you 

use. Generally, we should fill our bodies with moderate amounts 

of colorful foods, stay away from transfats and sugars, and stay 

hydrated. Sounds easy, yes? However, I think it is safe to say 

that many, many nurses do not follow this routine—and for a 

variety of reasons (excuses?) You may not take an adequate meal 

break—the practice is too busy, an emergency just arose, the space 

is not conducive to digesting. If you didn’t have time to get to the 

grocery or only had time to zip through the grocery, you may 

not have taken time to browse the produce section to really make 

wholesome choices. If you pack a lunch, you may have packed 

what would fit into the bag, not necessarily what constitutes 

healthy food. It’s not what you know, but what you do. So, how do 

you do things differently? Some ideas: 

a. Think color: We often shop without much thought—we buy 

the same things time after time (it’s called practical efficiency!). 

So, re-frame shopping and use your sense of color and smell 

to influence a few new items. Let your eyes draw you to items 

you may have passed by. Stand still and let your nose direct you 

to fruits and vegetables you may not be familiar with. Take a 

chance! 

b. Preparation and Durability: Red apples and green grapes don’t 

need preparation. Turnips (yes, raw turnips) and raw green 

beans (yes, raw) have a different consistency when raw and 

need no preparation. Cherry tomatoes and dried fruits are 

durable and need no preparation. None needs refrigeration or 

heat. 

c. Watch YouTube or other websites for ideas on how to cook (or 

not) food in different ways. Stir-fry is quick and could be a new 

way to mix meat and veggies. Pull out that food processor that 

is stored in the back of your cupboard—it may suggest soups or 

juices that you haven’t tried before. 

d. Think of different ways to fix your usual meals. Lettuce might 

make a better wrap than bread for a sandwich. 

e. Your turn: What suggestions do YOU have? 

2. Get enough rest – Hah, she says! If only… To say blithely that 

we all have the same 24 hours in a day is to show a lack of 

sensitivity at best and a total lack of reality at worst. Although 

it is true, each of us has different demands on our time. Some 

have young families; some have multi-generational families; 

some have no families but have others who claim our time. Some 

work more than one job; some balance shifts in order to create 

stability at home. No matter how many people or situations pull 

on our bodies, research reports that most of us do not get enough 

‘good’ sleep (i.e., REM sleep). How can you make the sleep you 

do get more restful? Try making your room darker, perhaps by 

installing special blinds. If you don’t have one, buy a timer and 

set it to turn off your TV and lights after you fall asleep. Set your 

furnace thermostat to a cooler temperature during sleep hours. Try 

meditation or other techniques to prepare your mind and body for 

a relaxed sleep. Make lists of things you have to do the next day or 

next week, then prioritize the items or group them into categories 

that will help you get them done in a timely manner. Grocery lists 

and to-do lists are one way to organize your life and corral all of 

those pressures that seem so ubitquitous and random. There is 

something positive to say about gaining control over the things that 

you can control. 

3. De-stress – And just HOW do you do that? Today’s nurses face 

unimaginable stressors: workplace, family, social. Although there 

is not enough space to address all of these in this article, here is a 

place to start: 

a. Workplace: If you are faced with too many hours, ask yourself 

if this is a pattern that you initiate (or encourage if you volunteer 

often) or that is ‘urged’ by your employer. Are the hours planned 

or overtime? If overtime, consider if the acuity or patient load 

has changed. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss 

how to handle mandatory overtime and other workforce issues. 

However, if your work site provides stressors that are becoming 

a burden, talk with a counselor about options. 

b. Family: Have the dynamics of those with whom you live or 

spend time changed lately? Do you spend more or less time 

together? Are you seeing different behaviors, such as acting out 

or more anger or more reclusiveness? Have you altered how you 

respond? Do you find yourself less ‘connected’ because you 

do not interact F2F with other people? All of these possibilities 

reflect the amount of stress that you endure. Think about 

your coping behaviors: are they working adequately or are 

you feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated? One way to 

modify your situation is to flip your greatest concern or fear to 

the opposite of what you are perceiving. If you see your position 

as lacking control, assume that YOU are the person directing 

your life and act accordingly. Put another way, do the opposite 

of how you feel. Another option is to talk with others who are or 

have been in similar situations. Ask them what they did to move 

forward, to get un-stuck. 

c. Social: If you think you are in a crisis, consider using an old 

model from Aguilera and Messick. The proposed that a crisis 

is like a 3-legged stool: if one of the legs is missing, a crisis is 

created. The 3 legs are obtaining accurate information, having 

necessary coping skills, and having a support system. The 

beauty of this model is that it offers actions to take to reduce 

the crisis. Do you need to get more information or verify the 

information you have? Do you need to learn a new skill? Do you 

need to get help? You often can de-fuse a situation quickly and 

set a different course. 

Conclusion 

It is hard for many nurses to focus on ‘I’ when we are used to focusing 

on ‘other.’ We may have to hunt for time or space in which we can take 

time out or actually dote a little on ourselves. Do not consider it selfish; 

consider it self-preserving. We are smart and caring and generous. Turn 

some of that inward on a regular basis. Refill the humanitarian side of 

our being so that we can grow and become the nurses we want to be. 

Reference 

Aguilera, D., & Messick, J.M. (1986). Crisis Intervention, Theory and 

Methodology, 4th ed. St. 

Louis, MO: CV Mosby. 

Jeri A. Milstead, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN 

ANA Hall of Fame 2020 



The AFT Votes Bus delivered PPE to Healthcare Workers in Ohio. Highly sought after PPE was given directly 

to our nurses in several locations throughout the state. Thank you, AFT! 





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