More than 15,000 nurses in Duluth and the Twin Cities recently launched contract negotiations with area hospitals.
The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), who represents nurses with Aspirus St. Luke’s and Essentia Health, held a press conference in St. Paul Thursday morning to go over their concerns.
An MNA representative specifically said they had concerns that hospitals were operating with unsafe staffing, compromising on patient care, and driving experienced nurses out of the profession. Nurses are now pushing for a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio. MNA said that research shows that lower nurse-to-patient assignments reduce hospital infections, readmissions, and deaths, and lowers healthcare costs.