Nurses at Saint Agnes Hospital Stage One-Day Strike Over Staffing Issues

Registered nurses (RNs) at Saint Agnes Hospital engaged in a one-day strike on Monday morning, highlighting ongoing concerns related to staffing levels and patient safety.

The National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) reported that nurses are advocating for improvements in patient care and staff retention. They claim that recent cuts to staff hours have hindered their ability to provide adequate care to patients.

Gideon Eziama, an RN in the cardiovascular telemetry unit, expressed the frustrations of nurses, stating, "When we have too many patients, we can't provide the care we were trained to give." He criticized the hospital’s unwillingness to enhance staffing levels, urging that patient care should take precedence over financial considerations.

The NNU pointed out that Ascension, the healthcare system overseeing Saint Agnes, recorded over $900 million in net profit last fiscal year. Despite this financial success, nurses have reported being instructed to reduce their hours, and some have been reassigned to units outside their expertise, such as postpartum and pediatric care.

In response to the strike, Saint Agnes Hospital issued a statement expressing disappointment with the union's decision, acknowledging the stress it may cause for patients and staff. The hospital assured the public that it would remain open and operational during the strike, implementing a contingency plan to maintain patient care.

Negotiations between Saint Agnes and the NNU for a contract covering registered nurses have been ongoing since January 2024. The hospital stated that after presenting its final offer, the union did not provide a formal counter-proposal for nearly a year. The hospital claims the primary obstacle to an agreement is the union's insistence that all nurses pay union dues.

Saint Agnes maintains that its last offer reflects a commitment to supporting nurses and has implemented wage increases over the past two years, with further increases planned for the future.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).