Today, Registered Nurses at St Joseph Hospital in Orange, a hospital where RNs are not yet represented by a union, took the bold step of publicly calling on management to take immediate measures to ensure the health and safety of RNs and patients alike regarding Ebola.  The RNs pointed out that the hospital, like most hospitals in America, has failed to enact adequate measures to protect against Ebola. They requested the hospital immediately implement the following:

• Optimal personal protective equipment for Ebola that meets the highest standards used by the University of Nebraska
• Continuous interactive training with the RNs who are exposed to patients
• RNs to have the right to refuse to care for an Ebola patient if, in the RN’s judgment, the conditions are unsafe
• At least two nurses will care for each Ebola patient with additional nurses added as needed, and they shall not have other patient assignments
• A medical services program at no cost to the employees that includes testing for any RN who requests it who believes he/she may have been exposed to Ebola at the hospital
• RNs who are required to miss scheduled shifts as a result of exposure to an infectious disease shall be placed on administrative leave without loss of pay or PTO
• RNs who are required to miss scheduled shifts as a result of exposure to an infectious disease shall not be penalized or disciplined in any way

These same standards are being requested in hundreds of hospitals across the country represented by NNU and CNA, including the four St Joseph hospitals in California where RNs are already represented by CNA.

St Joseph RNs were appalled at management’s reaction to their petition.  First, the hospital allowed supervisors, and other RNs who don’t do direct patient care, to stage a protest on hospital property with signs saying “shame on CNA for preying on fear.”  Second, the hospital administration issued a statement to the press—without responding to employees’ concerns—claiming they are “prepared to deal with infectious diseases” and attacking the nurses’ union for using “scare tactics” to “address labor issues.”

Contrary to management’s assertion, St Joseph’s RNs recognize the hospital is not prepared to deal with Ebola, which is why these requests are so urgently necessary.  RNs and other healthcare workers are truly frightened, with good reason after the disastrous situation in Dallas at another hospital that was also “prepared” to deal with Ebola.  RNs are not looking for platitudes or future plans, but immediate action now to protect the lives of RNs and patients.  After all, RNs’ right not to have their lives placed in danger by doing their jobs may be ultimate “labor issue.”

“We are extremely disappointed that hospital administrators seek to undermine our legal and moral responsibility to advocate for our patients during this Ebola crisis.  We believe management should listen to the caregivers and enact these standards now, for the good of RNs, other healthcare workers and the patients in our community.” –Marlene Tucay, RN, Medical Tele Unit, St. Joseph Hospital.