#United States #MNA #Foxborough #Dana-Farber

The Call for Pay Equity: Dana-Farber Nurses Speak Out

In a significant move advocating for their rights, the registered nurses at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Foxborough submitted an impactful letter to Josh Bekenstein, the Chair of the Board of Trustees. This communication comes after the nurses, who are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), encountered stark pay disparities compared to their counterparts at Mass General Brigham (MGB) working in the same facility at Patriot Place.

Unacceptable Pay Gap

As negotiations for their first contract progress, management’s proposal indicates that Foxborough nurses would earn 20% less than MGB nurses, despite the fact that both groups are providing care in the same building. This disparity has raised serious concerns about fairness and the implications for recruitment and retention of skilled oncology nurses in a climate where demand for healthcare professionals is soaring.

Patients Deserve the Best

In their letter to Bekenstein, the nurses emphasized the importance of delivering a high standard of care. They argued that the complexity and demands of their work are just as significant as those of their Boston-based colleagues. The disparity not only undermines their professionalism but also jeopardizes Dana-Farber’s capability to hire and keep talented healthcare providers, especially relevant as the institution prepares to expand its oncology services further.

The Unique Challenges Faced by Foxborough Nurses

Foxborough nurses are tasked with providing intricate oncology and hematology care, including:

• - The largest participation in treatment trials of all Dana-Farber satellite locations.
• - Engaging in lab rotations — a duty not required of Boston nurses.
• - Cross-training to manage various nursing roles effectively.
• - Administering multiple complex treatment regimens within a single shift.
• - Managing diverse diagnoses, encompassing both solid and liquid cancers.
• - Delivering detailed education on chemotherapy protocols to every patient receiving treatment.

Additionally, these nurses face a higher nurse-to-patient ratio than is typical at the Boston campus, all while adhering to the same regulations, education standards, and certification requirements as their urban counterparts.

The Future of Nursing at Dana-Farber

As Dana-Farber endeavors to recruit hundreds of oncology nurses to its forthcoming cancer hospital in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, it becomes increasingly crucial to address the lower pay offered at the Foxborough site. The nurses have raised an important point about the divergence between public representation and real compensation. They argue that if Dana-Farber claims that patients receive the same quality of care at regional sites, then nurses deserve equitable compensation.

The nurses passionately stated during contract negotiations: "When it comes to fair pay and recognition, we are made to feel 'different.' True equity, inclusion, and belonging cannot flourish without equitable treatment."

The Role of the Massachusetts Nurses Association

The Massachusetts Nurses Association has a rich history of representing nurses and advocating for better working conditions and fair wages. Established in 1903, it now boasts over 26,000 members dedicated to advancing health care standards while promoting nurses' welfare.

The situation at Dana-Farber highlights not just a local issue of pay but sheds light on broader systemic inequities present in the healthcare system, especially following a pandemic that placed unprecedented pressures on staff.

As these negotiations progress, the outcome will have long-reaching implications for nurses across the Massachusetts healthcare landscape and the patients who depend on their essential services.