The National Nurses Union has condemned the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s failure to implement permanent standards for health-care workers during the pandemic.
An emergency temporary order was put in place in June, Fatula said, but that’s at risk of expiring now.
Carondelet Health Network, which is owned by by the Texas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp., released a prepared statement:
“We would like the public to know that our hospital will continue to operate as usual while the rally takes place, and our patients will continue to receive uninterrupted, quality care. Our hospital and emergency room are open, fully operational and safe places for our community to receive care,” the statement reads.
“Engaging in union picketing campaigns during this time creates risk for everyone in the community. We remain interested in constructive dialog with union and community leaders but the fact is that our hospital is responding with leading solutions during a pandemic that has caused a national and local nursing shortage.”
Fatula said there is not a staffing shortage, but rather a shortage of nurses willing to work when conditions are so dire.
“Overall, nurses are experiencing extreme compassion fatigue,” she said. “Ultimately, what it boils down to is a lack of safe staffing locally at St. Joseph and St. Mary’s hospitals.”