2,200 "burned out" nurses walk off the job in Chicago

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

More than 2,200 nurses at the University of Chicago Medical Center are walking off the job Friday morning, after contract talks with the hospital broke down this week amid a dispute over staffing levels and pay raises. CBS Chicago reports the striking nurses said they're being forced to work long hours and cannot provide the proper care their patients need.

"Nurses are not just striking just to be striking. It is not something that anyone wants to do," registered nurse Denise Summers said.

Summers has worked as a nurse at the University of Chicago Medical Center for almost 10 years. She said change is drastically needed.

"Nurses are not able to take lunch. Many times we're not able to take breaks. We're penalized if we take sick time. And you get burned out," she said.

One of the sticking points in contract negotiations has been staffing. National Nurses United said the nurses have filed more than 1,700 complaints detailing staffing problems since January 2017.

The nurses said state law requires a one-to-four nurse to patient ratio, but they often have a one-to-six ratio in the emergency room.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/2200-burned-out-nurses-walk-off-the-job-in-chicago/ar-AAHAz3f?li=BBnb7Kz

[wasupaloopa]

1. When I was a controller at a medical clinic I learned to have great respect for nurses

[at140]

2. My first wife was a nurse and I understand this totally!

I always gave her a ride back from hospital, where she was usually late finishing her shift, many times her clothes were bloody from handling patients, and she was always exhausted.

[lunasun]

3. This is an extremely large medical center on the south side of Chicago . It is also regarded as

one of best hospitals in both Chicago and Illinois
This is where Michelle Obama worked before going to the WH
They have been complaining about staffing for a long time publicly as the article points out
This walk off is for better patient care . I hope this gets attention of the admins since trying to discuss did not

[Thekaspervote]

4. Me too!!