Registered nurses who work in Contra Costa County's public hospital, jail and clinics today sharply condemned a decision by County Supervisors to spend $3.7 million to fund replacement nurses during a potential strike—rather than directing those resources toward settling a contract that addresses the RNs' concerns for improving patient care.
 
“Administration has consistently failed to direct resources toward addressing unsafe staffing and deteriorating patient care conditions in our hospitals—and now they are dedicating funds toward replacing the nurses who are advocating for our patients’ rights?” says Amelia Scudiere, RN. “It’s unconscionable. We call on the County to invest in our patients, not temporary replacement RNs.”
 
The contract with Nurse Bridge Consultants calls for an amount of up to $3.7 million for the provision of temporary replacement registered nurses at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers, in case of a strike.
 
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, which represents nearly 1,000 RNs in Contra Costa County, say nurses have authorized a strike but have not yet announced if or when they will strike; that decision hinges on reaching a contract agreement. Nurses say they have been in negotiations with the County since July 2014.
 
“As nurses, we never take striking lightly, and after more than a year of stalled talks, it is a low blow to see that management does. This contract shows they are more focused on funds for replacing us, should we be forced to strike, than on dedicating funds toward correcting the serious patient care issues we have brought to their attention,” says Betty Anne Carpiso, RN.
 
In June, a delegation of RNs brought the issue of unsafe scheduling practices in the County hospital's perinatal units to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. RNs testified that the unit regularly lacks core staff and does not meet the mix of staff needed for appropriate care. The County health system's short staffing has also delayed expansion of the Contra Costa County Health Plan to many county residents after the Affordable Care Act expanded Medi-Cal eligibility in 2014, say nurses.
 
The County's unwillingness to seriously invest in its nursing staff, say Contra Costa RNs, has resulted in an inability to recruit and retain experienced RNs and high turnover rates. Since June 2014:

• In the ER, 22 nurses left, an overall turnover rate of 28 percent including 41 percent of the day shift nurses
• In Labor and Deliver, 24 nurses left, an overall turnover rate of 39 percent including 65 percent of the night shift nurses
• In Neonatal Intensive Care, the turnover rate is 25 percent, including 50 percent of the night shift nurses

Nurses are concerned that under current management practices, the County is providing training for new nurses who leave after a couple years for better employment conditions in other area hospitals. The County currently has at least 124 vacant RN positions.

“No one wants to strike; a strike is a last resort for nurses. But we are prepared to walk out for a short time, to prevent our nurses from being forced to leave for good, to work somewhere else,” says Maggie Ewing, RN. “We simply want to provide the best possible care, and that means management must invest in longtime caregivers—and in fostering safe conditions within the hospitals. Dedicating $3.7 million toward replacing us, while we call for change, is the wrong direction for this community. Our patients deserve better.”
 
Registered nurses working in the Contra Costa County Health system serve patients at numerous locations, including the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center, 8 Ambulatory Care Clinics in Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Concord, Concord Public Health, Martinez, and the West County Health Center, 3 Adult Mental Health Clinics in East County, Central County, and West County.