Nurses in Austin march for better staffing, patient safety
AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, thousands of nurses in Austin marched to demand better staffing levels and more safeguards for patients from the hospital industry.
The nurses who gathered outside of Ascension Seton Medical Center on Thursday morning were members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee and National Nurses United
The registered nurses said they were missing more than half of their meal and rest breaks due to staffing issues and asked for mandated nurse-to-patient ratios and guaranteed workplace violence prevention plans.
“Nurses at ASMCA want to ensure our patients receive the care they deserve, but Ascension's actions seem to value their profits above people,” said Anastasia Villarreal, RN in the oncology unit. “That’s why nurses are stepping out to sound the alarm for the communities we care for.
"From slashing pharmacy benefits and coverage for us, to constantly short-staffing the neonatal intensive care unit, where the tiniest babies need very delicate and meticulous care, to removing much-needed support staff on our ICUs, nurses are demanding: ‘Stop the cuts!’”
In response to the march, an Ascension spokesperson provided the following statement.
At Ascension, we recognize and deeply value the expertise, compassion and dedication of our nurses, who are central to delivering exceptional care to our patients. We are committed to safe staffing protocols informed by evidence-based medicine. To support this, we have a robust workforce development strategy aimed at recruiting and retaining skilled nurses. Our flexible and dynamic staffing models help ensure we provide safe, quality care to our patients.
Patient care and safety are always our top priorities. By responsibly embracing innovation, we aim to support our care teams as they dedicate themselves to ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.
an Ascension spokesperson