Tufts chief takes on nurses

vows to tap replacements during possible strike

zane told the herald she's contacted out-of-state nurses and is prepared to spend up to $4 million hiring at least 200 to keep tufts open during what she's classifying as a "very, very likely" work stoppage over a dispute about how many patients each nurse serves. the union wants a limit of four per shift-a demand zane said could cost another $33 million a year ...

... "i will never, ever agree to a nurse-staffing ratio," said zane, who has run the once-nearly bankrupt chinatown medical center for seven years and will retire sept. 30. "and i won't put this hospital in a position of financial harm, so some union can get more members."

zane's saber-rattling comes after months of negotiation between tufts administrators and nurses' representatives, who said changes in the way the hospital provides care has led to overburdened nurses and lower-quality care.

"administrators are turning hospitals into factories, and making nurses work like lucille ball on the factory line," schildmeier said. "instead of chocolates going by, these are human beings."...

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1330064