TODAY, Dec. 1: Nurses at Mt. Sinai Morningside/West Hospitals warn of Dire Conditions as a result of Severe Understaffing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2021
Contact: Carl Ginsburg, carl.ginsburg@nysna.org, 917-405-1060
TODAY, DEC. 1: NURSES AT MT. SINAI MORNINGSIDE/WEST HOSPITALS WARN OF DIRE CONDITIONS AS A RESULT OF SEVERE UNDERSTAFFING
New York City - In what some nurses are terming “the worst conditions they have ever known,” an understaffing crisis in units across two Mount Sinai facilities – Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West – is growing, alarming the nurses of the New York State Nurses Association and supporters. The nurses will Speak Out for Patient Care today, Wednesday, December 1 at 11:30 AM on a public sidewalk near Mount Sinai West. The staffing crisis, engulfing the Emergency Departments, ICUs, Telemetry, Labor and Delivery, and others, has nurses racing on a daily basis to avoid what some are describing as dangerous conditions. Some RNs have quit or retired early, or soon plan to, in the face of stubborn management refusals to announce plans to protect patient care and hire and retain nurses.
WHO: NYSNA nurses of Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West hospitals
WHAT: Speaking Out for Patient Care and Against Understaffing across both hospitals
WHEN: Wednesday, December 1, 11:30 AM
WHERE: On a public sidewalk near the Mount Sinai West facility, 1000 10th Avenue (at 58th Street)
“Management appears to be playing a treacherous game: ‘How many patients can be treated with as few resources as possible?’” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN. “Staffing on the margins and cutting corners are dangerous for patients. Where is managements’ concern for patient safety? What is their plan to recruit, train and retain nurses?”
As of Nov. 4, Mount Sinai Morningside had 130 NYSNA vacancies for registered nurses and nurse practitioners; Mount Sinai West had 133 NYSNA vacancies for registered nurses and nurse practitioners. These positions are unfilled and nurses have lost confidence that management intends to safely staff the hospitals.
###
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.