A Pledge To Smile The Lenox Hill Administration has recently come out with a new "Patient Satisfaction Service Standard." They are asking employees to sign a pledge, that, among other things, notes the employee will, above all, smile. The New York Professional Nurses Union is certainly not taking a position against smiling. The goal of the union is to make our hospitals good and safe places to work and receive care from. However, to actually sign a pledge to smile warmly at patients and/or customers, is insulting. NYPNU's solution? The union understands that it isn't always feasible to comply with the smiling pledge that you made. After being on your feet all day, being denied a break and being told "there's no one to send" when you're down a nurse - it would be impossible for anyone to use those facial muscles to muster a smile. But fear not. When you can't produce a natural smile, NYPNU has provided you with almost-like-the-real thing substitute. The Smile-On-A-Stick not only helps you adhere to the Hospital's smile pledge, it actually helps put a real one on your face. And it also sends a message to the Hospital that though some of their Patient Satisfaction Service Standards are understandable, nurses are professionals and act accordingly and rather than order someone to smile, maybe they should work on giving nurses things to smile about. Smiles-On-A-Stick are now being distributed by delegates. Or stop by the NYPNU office to pick them up for you and your colleagues. © 2004 New York Professional Nurses Union Ph: 212.988.5565 1104 Lexington Ave #2D New York, NY 10021 nypnu@nypnu.org Home | About NYPNU | Your Rights At Work | Political Action | Members Only | Have Fun