2024 ONA-Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) Working Conditions Survey

Introduction

Hello,

Your ONA labor representatives, executive team, and some ONA nurse leaders from the BHU have been meeting about the impacts to your working conditions since the UD closure was announced. A demand to bargain the impacts of the changes to your working conditions was filed and we have been engaging in that process for many months. We have been able to advocate for some improvements like the on-site lab tech that is due to begin working soon in the BHU. However, we understand that there are still issues that need to be addressed and those issues are being magnified by concerns and pressure to adjust the BHU PI and thus the nurse patient ratio across the BHU.

A couple of reminders. Your current staffing plan is in effect until a new one has been approved. Once your UBPC works through any changes they are willing to make, the staffing plan will go out to the unit for a vote. If the plan isn’t safe or workable you can voice your opinion by voting. This is very important. Your unit’s PI/ratios should not be adjusted simply because of a budget. Your staffing plan must also recognize and consider modifications for patient acuity and nursing care intensity. Clearly all the tasks that were added to your duties when UD closed need to be considered in your new staffing plan.

Please take a couple of minutes and give us feedback on how things are going in your department specifically around the impacts to your working conditions since the UD campus closed. This information is anonymous and will help advise your ONA team on next steps in this bargaining process.

Thank you!