Don't give in to Teamsters' threats to healthcare

As a registered nurse at BGH, I'm outraged at the Deutchmans' letters, which suggest if the community does not support the Teamsters, then they won't have access to a nurse at the hospital, which is not only untrue, but highly inappropriate. There are a large number of nurses who oppose the Teamsters, and as one, I am sick of the splatter, much of it twisted and untrue, from the Teamsters. All these ads you see about supporting your nurses - for  those of you who don't know - they aren't ads by the nurses; they are run by the Teamsters, and all of the nurses do not support the Teamsters. 

 As a nurse, and as a healthcare consumer with a family that I love and care for, I also want to ensure we get good care at our local hospital. Excellence is important to me as a nurse and a consumer.

What lead to a few nurses calling in the Teamsters, who know absolutely nothing about healthcare or nursing needs but know everything about bully tactics and making a buck - I have no idea. I don't understand choosing the Teamsters over a nursing union or organizing a leadership council. When I asked a few, they couldn't tell me. When I how the Teamsters would improve their lives, they also had no idea.

Nurses are an interal part of your healthcare team. I see nurses every day who fix things. Your nurses can do anything. We will not abandon you as Mrs. Deutchman suggested. We save and protect lives, ease pain and improve outcomes every day.

I believe nurses can fix whatever needs fixing, without the Teamsters. They twist facts and make untrue accusations, like when one of the hospital's lead negotiators died - they accused the hospital of “refusing to meet.” 

I say, let's support and empower our nurses, believing they can fix their problems with their existing skills of assessment, planning, teaching, communication and negotiation. When you write your letter to support BGH nurses - tell them that you support your nurses and not the Teamsters Š and let's get the bullies out of our hospital.

KIMBERLEE LANGFORD

Sandpoint