RE “NURSES may join big union: State’s locals seek lobbying power’’ (Page A1, Oct. 29), Robert Weisman’s article regarding the Massachusetts Nurses Association’s decision to form a national nurses union: I would like to express my thoughts on what a necessary and long-awaited step this is.
Once the Massachusetts Nurses Association parted ways with the management-dominated American Nurses Association, it was always the goal of this body of bedside nurses to form a national union.
We need a national voice to represent the plight of the direct caregiver.
One of our immediate needs is to push legislation similar to California’s, which will prevent nurses from caring for too many patients at one time.
We can prevent serious complications and save lives if nurses care for no more than four patients at a time on the typical medical-surgical floor.
Not only would this save patients from suffering and dying needlessly, but it would save hospitals money in the treatment of the aftermath.
The nurses of the Massachusetts organization are a strong, proud, and diverse group of professionals, but it is clear that it is the will of the majority that we move toward a national nurses union that would give us the greatest opportunity to fight for and achieve our goals.
Marie Ritacco
Auburn
The writer is a registered nurse. 
