RNs at PIH Health-Good Samaritan Hospital to protest unsafe staffing

Registered nurses at PIH Health-Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif., will hold a community speak-out along with clergy from Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) on Wednesday, April 13, at 8 a.m., California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced today. The speakers will highlight patient safety concerns resulting from management’s decisions, including short-staffing, not enough RN staffing for safe meal and rest breaks, and negative health outcomes for patients.

“The hospital’s solution to the lack of nurse retention and recruitment has been to hire non-RNs to directly care for patients,” said Alejandro Cuevas, RN, who works in the critical care unit. “Rather than truly attempt to hire direct-care RNs, the hospital is now deciding to put patients at risk and saving money in their pockets in the process.”

• Who: RNs at PIH Health-Good Samaritan Hospital
• What: Community Speak-Out for Patient Safety
• When: Wednesday, April 13, at 8 a.m.
• Where: PIH Health-Good Samaritan Hospital, in front of the main entrance off Witmer and Shatto streets

Nurses will be available to speak with media at the event.

“We are put in a moral dilemma every day we come into work,” said Jennifer Delisle, RN, who works in the orthopedic unit. “As patient advocates, we should not have to choose between caring for one patient over another because the hospital is not doing enough to staff. We should be provided all the necessary resources, equipment, and training to be able to adequately care for our already vulnerable community.”

CNA/NNU represents more than 500 registered nurses at PIH Health-Good Samaritan Hospital.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 175,000 RNs nationwide.