Shasta Regional Medical Center nurses, health care workers to hold vigil for patient safety

Registered nurses and health care workers at Shasta Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Redding, California, will hold a vigil on Wednesday, October 1, to highlight a slew of patient safety concerns, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) today.

SRMC has implemented multiple operational decisions that put patient safety at risk. Due to hospital management's decision to close the night shift pharmacy, patients are in imminent jeopardy, forcing nurses to mix drugs at the bedside. Additionally, management's consolidating of post-anesthesia care and gastrointestinal procedures into one room are exposing patients to poor hygienic standards and potential infection because the room is too small to handle the volume of patients and visitors.

"The situation at SRMC has spiraled out of control and forced us to go public with our concerns," says Michelle Gaffney, RN and chief nursing representative. "Our patients, staff, and community deserve better."

What: Shasta Regional Medical Center RNs, health care workers vigil for patient safety
When: Wednesday, October 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Shasta Regional Medical Center, 1100 Butte St, Redding, California

SRMC nurses will detail additional concerns related to patient and staff safety, including:

• "Go-lean" staffing model that frequently results in workplace injuries and leaves of absences that result in the hospital being vulnerable to "diversion," meaning its ER cannot admit any more patients;
• Dismissal of workplace violence issues, exacerbated by the "lean" staffing model; and
• Lack of transparency regarding patient billing.

CNA represents nearly/more than 900 registered nurses and healthcare workers at Shasta Regional Medical Center

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.