Braving freezing rain and snow that shut down parts of the federal government, registered nurses at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC Tuesday night became the first area non-union hospital in decades to vote to join a union. In an election greeted by cheers and tears, the Providence RNs voted 232 to 66 – a 78 percent margin – to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United.  The National Labor Relations Board conducted the secret ballot election. NNOC/NNU will represent some 400 RNs at the hospital, which is a part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, the country’s biggest Catholic hospital system. “Providence RNs contacted NNOC/NNU because of its enormous clout across the country and its unprecedented achievements for nurses and patients. We are thrilled to have won a powerful collective voice for our patients and our colleagues through NNOC/NNU,” said Shirley Commissiong, an Emergency Room RN at Providence. "The nurses at Providence have spoken. Our main goal is quality patient care,” said Providence Telemetry RN Donna Cobey.  “I'm so happy about our victory which will set new standards for nurses in our community." photo courtesy NNU