Citing Short Staffing, St. Charles RNs To Hold Informational Picket
Nurses working under expired contract say there are not enough nurses to do the job
**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 8**
PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y., April 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Registered nurses at St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center are holding an informational picket on Friday, April 8, 11:30AM – 2PM, to call for urgent attention to staffing shortfalls at the facility. Nurses say that the understaffing threatens to put quality patient care in jeopardy. There are 328 registered nurses at St. Charles Hospital; they are members of the New York State Nurse Association. The RNs have worked without a contract for more than a year.
Emergency nursing staff is stretched very thin, according to the hospital's Emergency Department RNs. Intensive Care Unit nurses say they often care for three or four patients per nurse, when professional standards mandate one or two per nurse. Nurses in the facility's Rehabilitation Unit say at times patient loads have been as high as 11 patients per nurse.
"As a lifetime member of this community and a 46-year employee of St. Charles," said Maureen Woodruff, RN, "my priority as a patient advocate is to ensure that the best possible care and outcome is given to my patients. But shortstaffing is a persistent problem." Tracy Kosciuk, RN, said, "As a nurse for 28 years at St. Charles, I have seen the needs of our patients change over the years. Patients are coming in much sicker. Unfortunately, nurses have less time at the bedside. My top priority then and now and always will be my patients. But it's gotten more difficult."
WHAT: Informational picketing about safe staffing for St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
WHO: Registered nurses, patient advocates, labor allies and community supporters.
WHEN: Friday, April 8 11:30AM – 2PM
WHERE: 200 Belle Terre Road - Port Jefferson, LI
**EXCELLENT PHOTO, AUDIO AND VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES**
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.
Contact: Carl Ginsburg I Email: carl.ginsburg@nysna.org I Cell: 917.405.1060
SOURCE New York State Nurses Association
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