PRESS RELEASE FOR May 6-12, 2018 CONTACT: Terry Carter (805) 312-0024
International Nurses Day: May 12 National Nurses Week: May 6-12 Union Nurses: Busy advocating for patients
Los Angeles, CA--Nurses Week is a great time to recognize the work of nurses. They care for us whenever we need them. They are exposed to rare communicable diseases. They face significant risks of workplace violence. And their hospitals are increasingly corporatized by Wall Street interests that put profits before patients.
But they don't stop caring.
Union Nurses take it even further. They consistently use their collective voice to advocate for patient safety. This year, the Nurses of SEIU Local 121RN worked with State Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) to introduce a bill designed to put an end to hospitals' practice of repeated, dangerous understaffing.
Click here for recent ABC news coverage on our bill. SB 1288, co-authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and co-sponsored by SEIU Local 121RN, SEIU California State Council and UNAC, was introduced in February. SB 1288 will mandate unannounced inspections of hospitals with a special focus on adherence to California's nurse-to-patient ratios as regulated by Title 22. The bill also increases the penalties assessed against hospitals that continue to flout these regulations.
Nurses Week is a great time to recognize RNs on the front line of the fight for patient safety! | |
 "I have no doubt those secondary illnesses were directly caused by short staffing."Read Kathy's story here |
Read Alvin's story here |
Read Joyce's story here |  "We're lucky that no one died that day."Read Yolanda's story here |
"That's the day I decided I would never take an unsafe assignment again."
"What if we'd let him wait in line?"###
Service Employees International Union, Local 121RN represents 8,800 registered nurses and other healthcare professionals at 26 hospitals and facilities in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. This member-led organization is committed to supporting optimum working conditions that allow nurses to provide quality patient care and safety.