The California Nurses Association said its members are leaving Alvarado Hospital at alarming rates — and patients are suffering because of it.

At a press conference Wednesday, the union said about 40 percent of nurses left the hospital in the last year, with some specialty units losing as many much as 70 percent. 

Alvarado Hospital and the nurses union have been in contract negotiations for just under a year.

In a report, Nursing Solutions Inc., said the national turnover rate for registered nurses is about 15 percent.

The hospital released a statement calling the press conference a union stunt.

“Stalling negotiations and holding press conferences, such as the one today, are common tactics deployed by unions bargaining with employers,” the statement read.

Source: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/jan/13/nurses-union-warns-alvarado-hospital-staffing-rate/