RNs demand management address recruitment and retention issues, staffing concerns

Registered nurses at Enloe Medical Center, in Chico, Calif. will hold an informational picket on August 28 to highlight their patient safety concerns, including recruitment and retention of experienced nurses, the need for job-related injury protections, and a commitment to natural disaster preparedness, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) today.

“As nurses who devote our professional lives to caring for our patients and community, we are deeply concerned about management’s reluctance to address our need for a designated break relief nurse in all departments that provide patient care,” said Lisa Ceynowa, a registered nurse in the medical-neurological unit. “We work 12-hour shifts, and we need a nurse who can step in to give us a break and who will care only for our patients during that time. Nurses may have to leave their patients in the hands of a busy colleague or work without a break, sacrificing their own well-being, if there isn’t a dedicated break relief nurse. Nurses deserve time to rest, regroup, and refuel so they can continue to provide the highest quality of care to their patients.”

• Who:Registered nurses at Enloe Medical Center
• What:Informational picket for patient safety
• When:Wed., August 28, 2024, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• Where:Enloe Medical Center, 1531 Esplanade, Chico, Calif. near the entrance

Nurses say the hospital must also address the need to recruit and retain experienced nurses who play a critical role in mentoring younger nurses.

“We have seen over the years that new nurses come to Enloe to get experience, but far too often they leave after one or two years,” said Kelsey Norton, a registered nurse in the radiology unit. “We welcome new nurses but it is essential they have the mentorship provided by experienced nurses who have years long experience. A balance of skills and experience is crucial in every unit and is necessary if we are to provide the best care possible to our patients.”

Nurses are calling on the hospital to address these issues as part of their new contract. The nurses began negotiations in December 2023.

CNA represents nearly 1,100 nurses at Enloe Medical Center.