FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2024
Salem, Ohio –– Nurses at Salem Regional Medical Center, represented by the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), have overwhelmingly voted to issue a 10-day strike notice to the hospital. This decision arises from the hospital’s failure to address critical nurse staffing issues, directly impacting patient safety and care quality.
In the last year, Salem Regional Medical Center has faced severe shortages in nurse staffing causing the hospital to close inpatient units, and patients being boarded in the emergency department, jeopardizing the well-being of both patients and staff.
“Our patients deserve better. My fellow nurses do not want to strike, but real improvements are essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of both patients and staff,” said Sara Harkleroad, President of the Salem Registered Nurses Association and Oncology nurse at Salem Regional Medical Center. “Fueled by overwhelming community support, we stand ready to fight for safer working conditions and better patient care for our community.”
Central to the nurses’ demands is the implementation of safe staffing standards – nationally recognized nurse-to-patient ratios in all patient care units that are vital to achieving optimal patient outcomes and providing high-quality care. The nurses are also demanding competitive wages to attract and retain skilled nursing personnel and prevent staffing difficulties and nurse turnover that directly impact patient care. Since 2021, the hospital has lost over 100 registered nurses.
“The patient care crisis in Salem is just one example of a statewide issue in Ohio’s hospitals that’s driven by greed rather than prioritizing safe patient care,” said Rick Lucas, BSN, RN, CCRN, Ohio Nurses Association President and Executive Director. “It’s time for hospital executives to prioritize the well-being of both patients and staff over profit margins. Our union sisters and brothers are united in the fight for an environment of care that prioritizes the safety and well-being of every patient and health professional in every Ohio hospital.”
The 120-member nurses’ union contract expires at 11:59 pm on April 20, 2024, with nurses scheduled to vote again on the strike before its commencement at 7:00 am on April 22, 2024.
Contact: Michelle Day
Director of Communications & Technology
mday@ohnurses.org
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