About 200 registered nurses wore all black and stood outside the Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center calling for fixed nurse to patient ratios.
Dawnette McCloud, executive President for Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, said very few states have fix patient ratios despite their importance for patient care.
“All the studies and data show that the more patients an RN takes the higher the risks to patients,” McCloud said.
The organization’s current contract with Kaiser Permanente remains in effect until September 2015.
Under the agreement, the nurse-to-patient ratios is on “a sliding scale, so you never know how many patients you’re actually going to be taking care of,” McCloud said.
McCloud said OFNHP has filed an unfair labor practice complaint to the National Labor Relations Board because of what the union calls “illegal changes” to the current contract.
McCloud said KP is, among other things, changing nurses’ scheduling, which is a violation of the current contract.
“It’s very unfortunate,” McCloud said.
In a statement released to KOIN 6 News, Michael Foley, communications manager for KP said:
As one of the top-rated health plans in the Northwest, Kaiser Permanente continues to look for ways to work more effectively and improve care and service for our members and patients. We are making changes to improve the care experience for our members and patients at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, including nurse scheduling changes and increased staffing in some areas.
Date: June 2, 2014