Of course the care is better in a hospital which has a union that keeps nurses and patients needs at the forefront. Advocating for patients is part of the nurse practice act in every state I have worked, but without a union it is difficult to be heard. Lets look at nurse to patient ratio would you rather have your nurse taking care of 10 or 6 patients. 10 or more was common in the Vegas Valley 4 years ago. I stressed a union that has nurses/patients first. A union that is 100% nurses is not only able to fight for the nurse, but nationally for any person that needs healthcare. CNA/NNOC not only sets the standards nationally on nurse to pt ratios but stands behind their RN's when due to "unexpected events" nurses are told they will need to take more patients, which not only places the individual patient but nurse in jeopardy. CNA/NNOC also is currently lobbying for HR 676, single payer healthcare, which would provide healthcare to every person in the US. You say you have healthcare- do you know how quickly you will meet you max or how easy it is for insurance companies to deny care that is experimental or not the "norm" for your diagnosis.