Registered nurses at MountainView Hospital voted to authorize a strike on Wednesday after a union spokesperson said the hospital “refused to address numerous patient safety issues.”
National Nurses United, a union representing around 950 MountainView nurses, says the strike was authorized by 98% of those participating. While the vote does not guarantee a strike, it does authorize those bargaining on the nurses’ behalf to call a strike, if they deem it necessary in negotiations.
At any time in the process, the nurses have the option of calling off the strike if an agreement with HCA is reached. However, if nurses decide to move forward with a strike, hospital management would be notified 10 days before to allow time for planning patient care.
Nurses at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa say they are being stretched too thin.
They rallied outside the facility Tuesday to protest what they call a national “hiring freeze” at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
About 160 nurses and other hospital employees showed up over the course of the morning to chant things like, “What do we want? Safe staffing! When do we want it? Now!” on the street outside the facility as passing cars honked in support.
The VA says there is not a national hiring freeze, rather the agency is “strategically” hiring nurses “where needed,” agency press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement.
Albany Medical Center said its nurses will receive previously scheduled raises even as they continue to work without a contract.
Hospital officials said nurses typically receive raises on the same schedule, and under the union contract, no raises could happen until a contract is reached. The hospital said they did not want to delay raises.
The previous contract expired on July 31. Nurses are calling for improved staffing ratios and recruitment efforts.
Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences is expanding its full suite of hybrid nursing programs to Oregon.
Aspiring nurses in Oregon can prepare for licensure in as little as 20 months through Joyce’s pre- and post-licensure programs, with no prerequisites or prior experience required.
In its ongoing effort to address the demand for well-trained registered nurses, Joyce University has expanded beyond its Draper, UT campus to offer programs in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Wisconsin, and now Oregon. The university’s hybrid model combines online learning with immersive in-person labs and simulations at its Draper campus. Clinicals are conducted within the student’s state of residence.
There is a large need for nurses in Indiana right now.
The ongoing shortage here in our state and across the country has been well documented, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the need will grow in the next 10 years.
It’s one of the reasons Kristan Cleckner wants to go into the field.