About 1,800 nurses and frontline healthcare workers across four Southern California Prime Healthcare facilities have launched a five-day strike to fix what they say are unsafe working and patient care conditions caused by short-staffing affecting the healthcare industry.
Workers from United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) are planning to strike from Oct. 9 to Oct. 14 at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center, and Encino Hospital Medical Center.
The strike comes just days after thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in Southern California ended a three-day strike.
“Staffing has been so critically low that many caregivers have left,” said Bernie Espinoza, an ultrasound tech at Prime Garden Grove Hospital. “The remaining workers are stretched thin and rushed. We’re forced to take on more patients with less staff, which leaves much less time for quality one-on-one patient care.”
Prime Healthcare operates healthcare facilities in 14 states nationwide.
According to spokesperson Elizabeth Nikels, the company has put forth resources and nationwide strategies to recruit and retain talented professionals.
“We have implemented processes to expedite hiring timelines, placing highly-trained, skilled staff in positions to advance our mission and care for patients in the safest way possible,” she said in a statement.
Workers share their experiences
Among striking workers are licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical…
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