Nurses at Southern Ocean Medical Center agreed to a contract on Sunday, averting a strike less than 24 hours before the scheduled walkout.
The nurses, who are part of the Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE) Local 5138, were negotiating with the hospital over nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, wages and other benefits. After a day of talks Saturday that continued into early Sunday morning, the union said it reached a tentative deal on a three-year contract.
As health care needs continue to climb across New Mexico, nurse practitioners are stepping up to fill the gap.
Nurse practitioners, or NPs, are advanced practice nurses who can diagnose, treat and prescribe medications. New Mexico allows them to practice independently, a policy that helps reach patients who might otherwise go without care.
Nurses from Henry Ford Rochester Hospital started their strike at 7 a.m.
Monday as contract negotiations continue to stall over staffing ratios. The union is demanding better nurse-to-patient ratios be included in their contract.
NYSNA, New York's largest union and professional association for registered nurses, which represents over 42,000 nurses and health care professionals, has been vocal about recent actions by some hospital systems that are cutting costs as well as jobs.
Fresno’s largest healthcare system discreetly slashed hundreds of nursing supervisor positions in recent weeks as part of a staffing shakeup.
Nearly 300 clinical nursing supervisors employed by Community Health System were informed that they had to decide whether to take a pay cut, apply for a leadership position or accept a severance package.
A March 4 letter obtained by The Bee confirms CHS notified Fresno city and county officials about plans to eliminate 285 positions due to the hospital system “restructuring its operations.” The letter said the layoffs impacted 180 positions at Community Regional Medical Center, as well as 19 positions at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital and 86 positions at Clovis Community Medical Center.
Two sides are warring over the passage of a bill mandating nurse-to-patient ratios and increasing transparency in work protections.
Senate Bill 182, sponsored by Sen. Rochelle Nguyen, D-Las Vegas, passed through the assembly on June 2 and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Joe Lombardo. The bill is aimed at reducing nurse burnout and increasing patient safety by establishing maximum limits on the number of patients nurses can be assigned to in various hospital units, policies for additional compensation and keep records of any refusals, objections and requests to be relieved.