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.