Informational Pickets – Tuesday, July 9, 2019 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

The California Nurses Association (CNA) announced today that registered nurses at HCA-affiliated Good Samaritan Hospital and Regional Medical Center in San Jose will hold informational pickets Tuesday, July 9, 2019 to urge hospital management to address RN turnover rates and optimal staffing levels. Nurses say investments in nurse staffing at the hospitals will allow for robust recruitment and retention of experienced RNs, and ensure optimal patient care.

What:RNs to Hold Informational Pickets, Urge Management to Address Turnover Rates and Invest in Retaining Nursing Staff
When:Tuesday, July 9, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Where:Good Samaritan Hospital : 2425 Samaritan Dr., San Jose, Calif.
            Regional Medical Center : 25 N Jackson Ave, San Jose, Calif. 

According to data provided to CNA by Good Samaritan and Regional Medical Center, both hospitals had a turnover rate of 20 percent from February 2018 through February 2019. By comparison the median rate of turnover in California hospitals in 2015 was 3.2 percent.

“When there is adequate staffing throughout the hospital, nurses are in the best position to provide optimal care to their patients,” said Jennifer Rodas, a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital. “We are picketing because we want to see our hospital use its resources to invest in recruitment and retention of experienced nurses as this will greatly benefit our patients.” 

At Good Samaritan Hospital turnover rates varied across departments. Oncology saw more than 26 percent of its registered nurses leave during the reported 12-month period, and one in four nurses left the emergency room and the cardiac catheter lab within that period.

At Regional Medical Center the intensive care unit and maternal child health units both saw a 25 percent turnover rate during the reported period, while the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and the pre-surgery unit reported a 30 percent turnover rate.

“I have worked at Regional Medical Center in the intensive care unit for more than 40 years,” said Dottie Higgins, RN. “I know that the nurses are able to provide optimal care when they are working in stable teams that have formed over the years, as we come to understand the strengths of our colleagues, the rhythm of the unit and we master the expertise needed to best address our patients’ needs.”  

Good Samaritan and Regional Medical Center have both had to pay thousands in penalties for nurses missing their meal and rest breaks. According to Regional Medical Center data, nurses at that hospital missed 889 meal and rest breaks from November 2018 through January of 2019. During that same period, Good Samaritan nurses missed 2,192 meal and rest breaks. Many of these nurses are not getting meal or rest breaks while working 12-hour shifts.

Research studies shows that when RNs are able to take adequate rest and meal breaks they are more likely not to experience fatigue, which can lead to medical errors, and injuries to both RNs and their patients.

“When nurses have their proper rest breaks and a chance to eat their meals, they are able to provide the best care to their patients,” Maureen Zeman, a labor and delivery nurse at Regional Medical Center. “Adequate staffing allows for these important breaks in a nurses’ day so they can be refreshed and alert as they provide care.” 

CNA represents 1,050 registered nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital and the 900 registered nurses at Regional Medical Center.

The California Nurses Association has 100,000 members statewide and is affiliated with National Nurses United, the largest and fastest growing union of RNs in the nation. CNA/NNU has won landmark health and safety protections for nurses and patients in the areas of staffing, safe patient handling, infectious disease and workplace violence protection.