Laboring for union nurses. With CNA's first win outside Calif., competition is heating up to organize registered nurses. Some say that's good for providers.

The competition to represent registered nurses is getting hot. When Cook County, Ill., nurses, shown at left awaiting the outcome of the election, voted earlier to join the California Nurses Association, it was the aggressive union's first victory outside its home state. Some say the growing number of unions pursuing RNs will weaken labor solidarity and work to providers' advantage.