FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2025
Columbus, Ohio – Nurses and health professionals from across Ohio united at the Ohio Statehouse today for a pivotal day of advocacy, standing strong and raising their voices against the escalating patient care crisis that is jeopardizing the health and safety of patients, nurses, and all health professionals.
The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) is sounding the CODE RED alarm, demanding immediate and decisive action to confront the dangerous staffing shortages and the rampant surge of workplace violence plaguing our hospitals. The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated; it is a call for protection and a matter of life or death.
A Call to Action
Ohio’s nurses are not just advocating for their safety and well-being; they are fighting for the safety and rights of all healthcare professionals and the protection of every patient. The ONA is demanding that legislators establish legally enforceable staffing mandates at all Ohio hospitals to ensure that each patient receives the highest quality of care and that every health professional has safe working conditions. Our healthcare systems cannot be safely sustained under the current environment. It has been proven that minimum nurse-to-patient ratios save lives and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the ONA will continue advocating for additional comprehensive measures to prevent workplace violence, including mandatory reporting systems and enhanced security protocols.
Unsafe Staffing and Workplace Violence
Hospitals across the state are critically understaffed due to greedy executives putting profits over patient care to save a few bucks by keeping units short-staffed and overall inadequate staffing plans. The shortage of nurses and health professionals is at an alarming level, with 63% of direct care nurses considering leaving bedside nursing due to current conditions, according to the “ONA Survey of all Ohio Nurses: 2024 Staffing Findings.” This crisis is exacerbated by overwhelming patient loads, insufficient staffing, and rising workplace violence, which are pushing our dedicated healthcare workers to their limits. Ohio cannot afford to lose 3 of every 5 bedside nurses.
The ONA’s survey also reveals that 65% of nurses have experienced workplace violence in the past year. This combination of unsafe staffing and escalating workplace violence is creating a toxic environment that endangers both patients and healthcare professionals.
“Every day, nurses are pushed to their limits, overworked and placed in hazardous situations that put everyone at risk,” said Rick Lucas, ONA President and Executive Director. “We are fed up with these intolerable conditions and are calling for immediate action to protect those who dedicate their lives to caring for others. The future of healthcare in Ohio depends on immediate action taken by our legislators and hospital executives. Someone’s safety and care depend on it.”
In 2025, the ONA will reintroduce a safe staffing bill that supports nurses and health professionals and prioritizes patient safety.
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About ONA
Formed in 1904, the Ohio Nurses Association is a powerful network of nurses and health professionals. Our mission is to unite and empower nurses and health professionals, championing their rights, promoting professional practice, and advocating for quality care for all patients in Ohio, while fostering a strong and cohesive professional union community. To learn more or to become a member of the Ohio Nurses Association, visit https://ohnurses.org/.