Will California, the world’s 8^th largest economy, set a national standard for the U.S. and beyond on the highest safety standards and protocols for confronting the deadly Ebola virus? That’s the proposal leaders of the National Nurses United and California Nurses Association will make to California Gov. Jerry Brown Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, NNU/CNA leaders will comment on the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday night.

NNU leaders will have a media availability prior to the meeting with the Governor at 9:30 a.m. on the North Steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, and a press briefing following the meeting at 11:30 a.m. after the session.

Following the meeting with Governor Brown in Sacramento Tuesday, NNU/CNA members will host a public session with representatives of the Department of Industrial Relations and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the CNA offices, 2000 Franklin St., in downtown Oakland.

“Gov. Brown has the authority to make California a national, and international model again,” said NNU/CNA Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro. “He has already taken an important step forward by scheduling this meeting, offering to listen to the serious concerns of nurses across California about Ebola safety precautions, and directing his state agencies to review Ebola protocols for the state.”

NNU has also been calling on President Obama and Congress to mandate all U.S. hospitals to meet the highest “uniform, national standards and protocols” in order to “safely protect patients, all healthcare workers and the public,” and asking the public to join that call by signing a NNU petition online at:

http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/page/s/national-nurses-united-urges-you-to-take-action-now

 In addition to the California events Tuesday, NNU nurses are also holding actions in other states this week calling on hospitals to step up Ebola preparedness. Events include:

• St. Louis – a delegation of RNs this morning rallied at St. Louis University Hospital and presented a demand to the hospital CEO calling for it to adopt the highest standards of Ebola preparedness
• Chicago – Tuesday, Oct. 21, 5 p.m., Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark St.
• Bangor, Me. – Tuesday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m., outside the Governor’s office, State Capitol.
• Fort Lauderdale, Fl. – Friday, Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m., City Center Building, 401 E. Las Olas Blvd.