In Worcester, Mass., nurses at St. Vincent Hospital have been on strike since March 8 — the longest nurses strike nationally in more than a decade. In interviews, nurses at USC Norris and Keck said outside contract nurses often lacked the necessary skills needed to treat patients, particularly in specialty care. “And the last thing that we wanted to do was strike, but, unfortunately, we’ve been pushed to do so.”The USC nurses are represented by the California Nurses Assn./National Nurses United. Norris and Keck Hospital have some of the highest acuity rates in the country, meaning they handle the most challenging medical cases. At USC, nurses have raised concern that the reliance on these temporary workers further compromises patient safety.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 14, 2021 21:31 UTC