Union upset nursing assistants are sent home or told to not work

pickledpepperRN · Jul 31, 2006

I'm glad it made the paper.

The patients and their families need to know.

I would be upset. I would also be at my loved ones bedside.

Sheri257 · Jul 31, 2006

This is obvious retaliation for the strike vote, where the RN's have been voting to strike at other HCA facilities in California as well. It's simply absurd that you wouldn't need 20-25 aides on any given day.

These RN's can strike and/or quit and have a dozen job options the very next day if they want to. They're already short staffed, yet management wants to play these games like the RN's don't have other options. And it won't be just the RN's that will strike but LVN's, RT's, aides, etc.

I guess some big shot at HCA headquarters in Nashville thinks this is going work, and maybe it would in other areas of the country, but I seriously doubt these tactics will be effective in California. Just a one day strike alone cost the University of California $9 million last summmer.

If HCA wants to antagonize the RN's by denying them aides then they'll probably get a lot more than they bargained for. So far they've only voted for one day strikes but, with these kinds of tactics, I won't be surprized if the RN's walk out permanently. If HCA wants to spend millions trying to hire scabs, etc. ... so be it. They deserve it.

:typing

HARRN2b · Jul 31, 2006

Typical of Bill Frist and family

Sheri257 · Aug 2, 2006

A patient at this same hospital committed suicide at the hospital on Monday ... he jumped from the fifth floor.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-suicide1aug01,1,4288965.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

The union is blaming this on the staffing cuts. The article says he had a sitter who, apparently, left to deal with another patient.

:typing

Sheri257 · Aug 2, 2006

Another article on the suicide and staffing cuts ...

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_hospital02.1ed9fdd.html

The level of care for Golz and the other patient was appropriate, Dallarda said. The nursing assistant had checked in with Golz, who was in the bathroom. Then, the assistant went to see the other patient - in a room directly across the hall from Golz's room - and that's when Golz slipped out, she said.

When I've worked as an aide/sitter on suicide watch on a Med Surg floor, I wasn't allowed to leave the patient for any reason ... even to go to the bathroom ... without someone sitting in for me so the patient could be watched at all times. So I don't see how they can say the level of care was "appropriate".

I do feel terrible for the aide though. It's absolutely horrible when you're short staffed and management expects you to do the impossible and be in five places at the same time.

:typing

HARRN2b · Aug 2, 2006

Lizz,

it greatly concerns me that Bill Frist may be running for president in the next election. The general public is not aware of his family background. He is portrayed as a wonderful doctor (which he may be). However, there is, what a believe, a conflict of interest at play here. His family is HCA and that is how they made their fortune. Does anyone think that healthcare will get better in this country with Mr. Frist at the helm? Surely, not! He also tends to blow with the wind according to the political climate. First, he is against stem cell research. Then, I would suppose, because of rising support in the voting population, he becomes "for" some stem cell research.