Nurse strike in Cali

RN's in Cali are striking because of patient ratio and quality care, they are striking because of nurse patient 1:8 ratio and benefits . . . . If they will only know the situation in Philippines. Worst possible cases and worst environment plus a salary of 5000 below in most public (especially to provinces) and some in private hospitals. If they will know that nurse patient ratio are 1:25 up in most public hospitals and 1:10 to private hospitals. Perhaps we can do what they did because we have rights, am i right?

Hundreds of picketing nurses greeted patients today at 15 Northern California hospitals.

Nearly 5,000 registered nurses walked off the job at 7 a.m. to begin a two-day strike.

At Eden Hospital in Castro Valley, some 75 nurses were outside the building in the early morning chanting "Beat back the Sutter attack," and "Patients first, not profits."

Inside, replacement nurses carried on, though one grandmother leaving after the morning birth of a granddaughter said she could tell they were not used to the routines.

A hospital spokeswoman said it was "business as usual" there.

On the picket line, Tina Simon, a nurse at Eden since 1980, said nurses on some floors routinely go without lunch and other breaks because the hospital has no one to relieve them.

"This is a very stressful job. I don't think a patient should have a tired nurse with low blood sugar taking care of them."

The state has a law mandating a nurse-patient ratio, but the striking nurses say it is not enough.

"Obviously, there is a safe staffing law but the hospital industry is finding ways to bypass that," said Bob Auen, an ICU nurse.

The nurses also want a dedicated team to help lift and move patients. Simon said she had back surgery for a disc that ruptured when she tried to move a patient bed....

Complete article can be view here- http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7136262