Thousands of NYC's Registered Nurses Info Picketing at Area Hospitals Citing Staffing Crisis; Not Enough RNs and Caregivers For Safe Patient Care
NEW YORK, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After months of negotiations, thousands of NYC's registered nurses from 14 citywide hospitals are taking their fight for patient care and safe staffing levels to the community with a day-long citywide informational picket. To get the word out, the nurses will be picketing in front of area hospitals in MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, THE BRONX, and STATEN ISLAND on THURSDAY, April 16th.
Thursday's action comes as nurses protest unsafe RN staffing levels in some units, as well as excessive patient assignments for nurses and caregivers that threaten to compromise the quality and safety of patient care. "We're uniting for our patients and we're asking management to prioritize safe RN and caregiver staffing levels that have proven to save lives. There are times when we're caring for 9 or 10 patients -- even more – and, it's not possible to give each patient the attention that they need," said Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, a registered nurse at Montefiore Medical Center and President of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). "We went into this profession to be patient advocates... That's what this info picket is all about." RNs have focused on fighting serious staffing shortages while the healthcare industry is rapidly consolidating.
In 2014 alone there were more than 25,000 formal RN complaints to management in downstate hospitals for shortages that affect patient care. In some cases, nurses have seen their patient assignments doubled or tripled. These levels conflict with professional peer-reviewed medical studies that have established safe staffing levels. Medical research clearly shows that when nurses take on too many patients, the risk of illness and health complications increases dramatically.
"As frontline nurses, we know that staffing is a problem. Patients deserve a nurse to be there at all times to care for them," said Patricia Kane RN, a registered nurse at Staten Island University Hospital and NYSNA Treasurer. "As patient advocates, we are dedicated to care for our patients and everyone within our communities. Hospital management needs to assure safe staffing levels and a renewed commitment to patient care."
WHAT: Citywide day-long informational picket at 14 area hospitals to advocate for quality patient care and for safe RN and caregiver staffing levels
WHO: NYSNA registered nurses and caregivers, healthcare workers, patient advocates, labor allies, elected officials, community supporters
LOCATIONS & TIMES:
THE BRONX:
Montefiore Medical Center
Moses Division (111 East 210th Street – corner of Bainbridge Ave)
7:30AM – 9:30AM
12:00PM – 3:00PM (Gun Hill Road entrance)
MANHATTAN:
NY Presbyterian Medical Center
Milstein Hospital Division (177 Fort Washington Avenue and West 164th Street)
7:30AM – 9:00AM
1:00PM – 3:00PM and 7:30PM – 9:00PM
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Klingenstein Clinic Center (1450 Madison Avenue and East 101st Street)
11:00AM – 2:00PM and 6:30PM – 8:00PM
BROOKLYN:
Maimonides Medical Center (4802 10th Avenue btwn 48th and 49th Streets)
7:00AM – 9:00AM
12:00PM – 2:00PM and 7:00PM – 9:00PM
STATEN ISLAND:
Staten Island University Hospital (475 Seaview Avenue)
7:00AM – 9:00AM
12:00PM – 2:00PM and 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Richmond University Medical Center (355 Bard Avenue)
12:00PM – 2:00PM and 6:30PM – 8:30PM
**EXCELLENT PHOTO, AUDIO AND VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES**
NYSNA Members and Elected Officials will be available for media availabilities
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 37,000 members in New York State. We are New York's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit our website at www.nysna.org.
SOURCE The New York State Nurses Association
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