Monique Hernandez, a nurse in the telemetry unit at HCA’s Riverside Community Hospital, often finds her workdays sabotaged before they even begin. While she is supposed to care for a maximum of four patients at a time, she often ends up with a higher ratio. This becomes particularly stressful in a department where critical patients require continuous cardiac monitoring. The frustration of Hernandez and other nurses spilled out during a picket at the facility. Represented by SEIU Local 121RN, the hospital’s 1,200 nurses have been in labor negotiations for four months as their contract approaches its expiration date on September 15.
One of the reasons for the staffing shortfall is the outsourcing of telephone operator jobs to Las Vegas. This has created a problem during emergencies, as these operators lack knowledge of the hospital’s various rooms and cannot provide accurate directions to medical staff. This leads to delays in responding to codes and negatively affects patient outcomes.
In response to the concerns raised by the nurses, hospital spokesman David Maxfield issued a statement emphasizing that Riverside Community values its caregivers and provides a safe environment for patients and staff. He acknowledged the ongoing bargaining with SEIU 121RN and stated that the picket was an expected tactic. Maxfield also highlighted the hospital’s recognition by Healthgrades as a national leader in vascular surgery outcomes, patient safety, and clinical performance.
However, nurses continue to express their concerns about being stretched thin and working with a skeleton staff, which compromises patient safety. They believe that HCA has the resources to address staffing and safety issues but has prioritized profit over patient care.
Similar complaints about understaffing have been raised at various medical facilities in Southern California, including Prime Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, Kaiser facilities, West Anaheim Medical Center, and several nursing homes in LA County.
HCA Healthcare recently reported increased earnings for the second quarter of 2023, indicating that the company has financial resources to invest in improving staffing levels.
The plight of nurses like Hernandez is disheartening, as they entered the profession with the intention of helping people. However, when their labor is exploited and they are unable to provide optimal care to patients, it has a profound impact on them emotionally.
Overall, the issue of understaffing and its impact on patient care is a widespread problem in healthcare facilities across Southern California. By addressing these concerns and prioritizing adequate staffing, hospitals can ensure the safety and well-being of both their patients and staff.
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