Del Sol Nurses Protest Staffing Levels
POSTED: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - 10:06pm
UPDATED: Friday, October 14, 2011 - 10:07pm
El PASO - Enough is enough. That's the sentiment among nurses at Del Sol Medical Center.
Nurses took to the streets this evening, to demand more help at the hospital. They held up signs, calling this a patient care issue. They argued they can't do their jobs effectively and take proper care of patients, if there aren't enough nurses working the same shift.
Monica Sanchez, a registered nurse, told Newschannel 9 that she and other nurses are working below the hospital's standards.
"The hospital has in place policies and a staffing matrix that are not always being followed,” said Sanchez.
"Our patient ratio is 1:6...Since we're nurses, we are patient advocates and we're here for patient care," said Vickki Gomez, a registered nurse.
Nurses said they've repeatedly raised their concerns with management and proposed ideas to help with the staffing issue; but the hospital has refused to make changes.
Tonight, hospital management told us they think the protest is connected to current contract talks with the nurses.
Carla Sierra, with Del Sol said, "We do not negotiate in the media...patient care is our first and absolute priority every day."
