Up to 1,000 registered nurses from Maine to California will gather in Washington, DC for National Nurses Week this Tuesday and Wednesday, May 11 and 12 to press the case for moving beyond insurance reform to improving the quality of care in U.S. hospitals and other healthcare settings. The two day event, hosted by the nation's largest nurses' union and professional association, National Nurses United, will feature a march rally a of RNs who will press for landmark patient safety legislation now in Congress, including a bill that would establish national standards based on a California law that a major new academic study documents has dramatically reduced hospital patient deaths.

In a dramatic expression of support for the aspirations of Texas registered nurses to have a stronger voice to speak out for patients and themselves, RNs at Cypress-Fairbanks Hospital in Houston voted today to remain members of National Nurses Organizing Committee-Texas, the state’s affiliate of National Nurses United, the national union and professional association for RNs.

After 28 days on strike, the members of PASNAP, the union that represents 1500 nurses, professionals and technical employees at Temple University Hospital, voted overwhelmingly to accept the new contract agreements. After three ratification votes held throughout the day, the total members voting was 1075 with 97% in favor.

One day after first greeting her adoring subjects outside a gala Beverly Hills event, Queen Meg of California will grace Sacramento with an unusual and highly-anticipated double appearance this Friday, April 23.

Following the defeat of a misguided bill to deal with problems at the healing arts boards, including the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), the California Nurses Association today called for Governor Schwarzenegger to take immediate common-sense steps to address the problems.