Workplace Issues - Assignment Example

Response One of the biggest advantages of having association with a collective bargaining association for a nurse is the job security that comes with it. Belongingness to a collective bargaining association is helpful in the case under consideration at least to the extent where the decisions of the top management influence the administration of the nurses. Nurses associated with the collective bargaining associations have to abide by the rules and principles set by their respective associations and they can consider themselves secure as long as they live by those rules.

However, whether such belongingness affects the reputation of the nursing profession positively or negatively really depends upon the performance of a union as different unions vary in their response, activities, and proceedings. One disadvantage is that many nurses tend to make negative use of the protection that comes with association with these unions. They are lazy and yet cannot be fired. The day-shift and night-shift nurses are involved in a constant blame game where they hold each other responsible for the faults and mistakes.

Another disadvantage for nurses is that they have to depend upon the union for everything. While an independent nurse may switch days with a coworker, the one associated with a union has to get the holidays preapproved from the union which may be an inconvenient process. Taking everything into consideration, the overall effect of association with a collective bargaining association on the nursing practice is generally more negative than positive particularly because it comes in between the patient and the nurse, and has the ability to erode the status and freedom of a nurse.