By Monica Rodriguez on March 19, 2010 6:52 PM - SOURCE

Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Ontario, spent part of Friday afternoon shadowing a nurse in the labor and delivery department of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

The experience was part of the "Walk a Day in My Shoes" program organized by the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU.

Candidates for office interested in being considered for endorsement by the SEIU must participate in a town hall activity or in the job shadowing to be eligible for endorsement, according to a statement from the Service Employees International Union Local 121 RN.

"We have issues that affect nurses that legislation can either hinder or help," nurse Jeannie King, vice president of SEIU Local 121 RN, said in the statement.
Among the matters of concern to nurses are changes in nurse to patient ratios and requiring relief nurses for breaks and lunch periods.

"Nurses know intimately how these changes could affect patient care in our hospitals. And, with all the pending changes to our health care system on the horizon, it's even more important for legislators to understand how nurses work on a day-to-day basis," King said.

Torres said she is aware of some of the issues impacting nurses including the nursing shortage and the need for more educational facilities where nursing training can be offered.