Get to Know a Nurse: Patricia Sheran-Diaz Has a Passion for Patient Care and Politics

June 5, 2015

Patricia Sheran-Diaz, RN, Tamarac (pictured center), poses for a picture with her colleagues at an 1199SEIU Florida Nurse Council meeting.



Patricia Sheran-Diaz is one of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East’s most active nurse leaders. She grew up in Belize, moved to New Jersey when she was 12-years-old and found her way to Florida 23 years ago.

Sheran-Diaz, a registered nurse and 1199SEIU delegate at HCA-affiliated University Hospital and Medical Center in Tamarac, has been an active nurse leader since organizing began at her hospital. She has always led the way when it comes to securing a quality work environment where she and her co-workers can deliver the best possible patient care.

“I became a union delegate because I saw how I can help my co-workers by the choices we have in our contract. I learned that I can be a better advocate for my co-workers and my patients because I am not limited to the policies of my hospital,” says Sheran-Diaz.

She has risen through the ranks of 1199SEIU leadership from the halls of University Hospital all the way to becoming a rank-and-file member of the 1199SEIU Executive Council - the highest elected body of 1199SEIU consisting of elected officers and dozens of delegates who represent various job classifications in every healthcare sector and geographic area where we are organized in the country.

Sheran-Diaz is also a member of the 1199SEIU Florida Nurse Council, which is made up of RNs and LPNs in hospitals and nursing homes working together to address the challenges nurses face on a daily basis. She recently met with fellow Nurse Council members to discuss issues at our hospitals and share best practices to address them. Oftentimes, the solutions that Sheran-Diaz and her fellow nurses develop together are brought to the Labor-Management Committees at our hospitals to improve our work environment and patient care.



“We have the option to question the policies of the hospital if we don't think they’re adequate to deliver quality care. All of this is because of our union process. We spent long hours negotiating our contract in order to get the best possible language to help my co-workers fight for our patients,” says Sheran-Diaz.

She also serves on the education and training committee for SEIU Nurse Alliance headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Political activism is a passion for Sheran-Diaz, which led her to the SEIU Florida State Council Leadership Academy where she learned to use her leadership skills at her hospital, and in her community, state and country.

“I learned that politics matters and I didn't realize how much control it had on our everyday lives. My goal is to convince my coworkers that we are a team. Together we are stronger and we can make a difference,” says Sheran-Diaz.

She has educated nurses, healthcare workers and people all over Florida about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and is often quoted in the media. Sheran-Diaz also participated in the first White House Town Hall in Spanish with President Barack Obama.

Her political activism recently took her to the state Capitol in Tallahassee with several of her colleagues to continue their advocacy for Medicaid expansion, which if passed, would expand healthcare coverage to nearly one million hardworking Floridians.

But politics and patient care are not her only passion.

“I love movies, music, dancing, being a union nurse and my kids” she adds while reminiscing about her four children: Francine (39), Shawn (38), Phillip (33) and Melissa (23).

Sheran-Diaz has been an elected union leader for many years, and will undoubtedly continue advocating tirelessly for nurses, the patients in her care and the opportunity for every Floridian to have quality healthcare.