Registered nurses at Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children\u2019s and Women\u2019s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. decided unanimously to pass a vote of no confidence in the hospital\u2019s administration, announced California Nurses Association\/National Nurses United (CNA\/NNU). The nurses, who voted on Thursday, July 17, cited repeated bad faith bargaining practices by hospital executives, who have continued to disregard failures in patient care standards.<\/p>\n
“Nurses have had enough,” said Stephanie Jobe, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Miller Children\u2019s and Women\u2019s Hospital. “We are committed to our patients and our profession, but we cannot continue to work under leadership that ignores our safety warnings, stonewalls us at the bargaining table, and punishes transparency.”<\/p>\n
The vote of no confidence reflects escalating frustration with MemorialCare senior management personnel, who nurses say have failed to address systemic issues despite repeated opportunities. Among their top concerns, nurses cite:<\/p>\n
Unsafe staffing levels across unitsUnmitigated workplace violence, stemming from a lack of a comprehensive prevention planFinancial decisions that prioritize profits over careRefusal to bargain in good faith<\/p>\n
Jobe, RN continued, \u201cDespite these challenges, nurses have continued to care for their patients\u2013working overtime, training new staff, and supporting each other. The vote is not just a statement of protest, but a call to urgent action and accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vote results will be shared with relevant regulatory bodies. Nurses are also calling on community members, elected officials, and patients to stand with them in demanding fair contracts that ensure safe staffing and high quality of patient care.<\/p>\n