Registered nurses at Ascension via Christi St. Francis Hospital and Ascension via Christi St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kan., will confront hospital management on Wednesday, Nov. 22 to protest management’s failure to bargain for fair contracts that protect patient safety and retain staff. The nurses, who are members of National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), have been in negotiations since February 2023.

“We are fighting for safe staffing and improved retention so we can give our patients the care they deserve,” said Shelly Rader, RN and member of the bargaining team. “Ascension has been dragging out contract negotiations and not living up to its mission of delivering ‘spiritually-centered, holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities.’ We are asking management to provide the compassionate care our community needs.”

While the action will be taking place inside the hospital, and therefore closed to press, nurses will be available for interviews after, around 9:15 a.m. CT.

• Who: Registered nurses at Ascension via Christi St. Francis Hospital and Ascension via Christi St. Joseph Hospital
• What: Media availability after RNs march on management
• When: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 9:15 a.m. CT
• Where: The corner of E. Grand Ave and S. Clifton Ave.

NNOC/NNU represents more than 900 nurses at Ascension via Christi St. Francis and Ascension via Christi St. Joseph Hospitals.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.