Monterey nurses to rally for patient safety

RNs at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula to call for safe staffing and workplace violence preventions plans

Registered nurses at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP), in Monterey, California will hold a rally on Monday, October 26 to highlight their patient safety concerns, including short-staffing and ongoing workplace violence issues, announced California Nurses Association (CNA) today.

"Short staffing throughout the hospital can be very hard on patients, and they can become agitated and act out," said Oscar Sandoval, RN in the emergency department. "When things escalate, it's nurses who get kicked, hit, or spit on. We need safe staffing so our patients get the care they need in a timely manner before they become distressed. CHOMP management has a responsibility and an obligation to make sure our workplace is safe for us and for our patients."

Who: RNs at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP)

What: Rally for safe staffing and workplace violence prevention

When: Monday, Oct. 26, 8-9 a.m.

Where: 23625 Holman Highway, Monterey (near hospital entrance)

CHOMP nurses are in negotiations for their first union contract after winning their election in January.The nurses are demanding that their workplace violence concerns be addressed and that the hospital implement unit-specific workplace violence prevention plans. The nurses are calling for the formation of a workplace violence committee that includes nurses. In addition, the nurses are demanding that there be adequate prevention and deescalation training and the maintenance of a rapid response team that can be immediately available to assist a nurse or patient when there is violence or threat of violence. Nurses are also demanding quarterly reviews of the effectiveness of the violence prevention plans for the entire facility.

"Nursing is the most trusted profession, and nurses take care of patients 24/7 at CHOMP. We are there when things go wrong," said Kristine Olalia, RN in the orthopedic unit. "We should be taken seriously when we raise safety concerns."

CNA represents more than 750 registered nurses at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.