Shasta Regional Medical Center healthcare workers speak out on safe patient staffing
REDDING, Calif. — An informational picket sign event took place at the Shasta Regional Medical Center (SRMC) as healthcare workers are demanding change in safe patient staffing.
This event comes after health care workers delivered a petition signed by 350 SRMC workers on October 21, to the hospital administration.
According to the California Nurses Association’s (CNA) press-release, health care workers sent Casey Fatch, CEO of the SRMC a petition a month prior, on September 21, listing more than 200 staff concerns regarding patient safety and current staffing policies.
The CNA recommends one nurse for every two patients.
KRCR spoke with Michelle Gaffney who’s an Intensive Care Unit registered nurse at SRMC—while she couldn't tell KRCR what the ratios are at SRMC on any given day—she says the organization is trying to raise awareness for those who don't have a platform.
“Patient safety is always the utmost and staffing is the most important issue that if you don’t have the help you need care is delayed and it is unsafe,” said Gaffney. “As a nurse, we are taught and trained to be a patient advocate and if we are bringing forth concerns then there’s obviously a problem."
KRCR also reached out to the hospital itself for comment and CEO Casey Fatch stated in a press release that, “Shasta Regional Medical Center is one of the largest employers in our community, employing over 1000 people. Staffing levels are appropriate and adequate for our census and patient level of care needs.”
The event ran from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
