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Nurses' Saturday night out
- on the picket line December 3, 2003 Brookhaven nurses on the picket line, from left on the front line, are Joanne Solch, Mary Lodato, Camille Basik, Ron Abrahall and Dan Bahr of NYSUT. On a November eve, while merrymakers went to a grand ball at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, a line of nurses stood outside the ball - not with glass slippers, but with picket signs. The hotel was the site of the 2003 Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Ball. Members of the Brookhaven Memorial Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals wanted to get the attention of those attending with a message about addressing a shortage of staff and difficult working conditions. "We're not looking for a raise - we're looking for staff," said Ron Abrahall, president of the hospital local. Employees of Brookhaven, who came to the rally by bus from the Long Island hospital, chanted, "Management went to the ball! Nurses answered the call!" They were joined on the picket line by Ivan Tiger and Alan Lubin, officers from Brookhaven's statewide affiliate, New York State United Teachers, and members of United Federation of Teachers. Picketers passed out informational leaflets about their work situation. Abrahall said the hospital has too high a ratio of patients to staff. "We'll have 12 to 16 patients on a 12-hour shift with a registered nurse," he said. "She may have an LPN or an aide. "If you could reduce the ratio, it will reduce the stress," he said. "I have people that just can't do it anymore." Abrahall said that they are losing staff who have been at Brookhaven 10 to 20 years. They sign up with agencies where the work is not as stressful. Brookhaven has been relying on traveling RNs instead of replacing staff, he said. While the union has met with hospital administrators over nursing shortages and recruiting, Abrahall said there has not been any action. The staffing problem, he said, "is an epidemic." NYSUT has advocated state legislation to establish enforceable, safe nurse-to-patient guidelines for hospitals for several years. Also, NYSUT has been promoting legislation to provide scholarships for financial support to nurses who agree to deliver nursing care in areas of the state where there is a nursing shortage. - Liza Frenette |
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