Bakersfield Memorial Hospital nurses are set to picket Wednesday morning, saying they want to bring awareness to unsafe working conditions.
The registered nurses say they also want to highlight short staffing at the hospital.
"Quality care requires staffing levels that reflect the judgment of the RN responsible for the patient based on factors including severity of the patient's condition and needs for nursing care, not just the number of patients in the hospital. Management is ignoring that and at the same time, failing to provide adequate levels of ancillary staff," said registered nurse Sandy Reding. "The RNs at Bakersfield Memorial strive to provide optimal, timely, and safe care. That's why we are calling on management to take immediate action to rectify the conditions that are compromising our patients' care," said Reding, who is also a member of the California Nurses Association board of directors.
A statement was issued by Dignity Health Memorial Hospital stating:
"The California Nurses Association notified Dignity Health Memorial Hospital of its decision to engage in an informational picket at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, May 25, 2016.
"We are disappointed about the union’s decision to engage in this activity because we pride ourselves to be compliant with California State mandated RN staffing levels and excellent safe patient care.
"We apologize to our patients, physicians and staff for any inconvenience this informational picket may cause. We believe the best place to resolve differences are through collaborative and constructive dialogue and processes as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"The health care workers participating in the informational picket are valued and respected members of our health care team. Our Employee and Labor Relations as well as Human Resources department welcome the opportunity to meet with CNA and its members to discuss and find common resolution to the issues of concern.
"Memorial Hospital will remain open and all services will be available as we continue to provide high-quality care to our patients."
The nurses are set to picket beginning at 11 a.m. at Bakersfield Memorial.
Dignity Health Memorial staff released a statement that said:
"The California Nurses Association notified Dignity Health Memorial Hospital of its decision to engage in an informational picket at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, May 25, 2016.
We are disappointed about the union’s decision to engage in this activity because we pride ourselves to be compliant with California State mandated RN staffing levels and excellent safe patient care.
We apologize to our patients, physicians and staff for any inconvenience this informational picket may cause. We believe the best place to resolve differences are through collaborative and constructive dialogue and processes as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The health care workers participating in the informational picket are valued and respected members of our health care team. Our Employee and Labor Relations as well as Human Resources department welcome the opportunity to meet with CNA and its members to discuss and find common resolution to the issues of concern.
Memorial Hospital will remain open and all services will be available as we continue to provide high-quality care to our patients. "
