A Tale of Different States
Around the country, there are 16 health organizations suspending COVID-19 injection mandates due to the litigation temporarily blocking the CMS from forcing mandates in 10 states pending the outcome of litigation.
However, 13 hospitals in other states not affected by the injunction are shutting down various departments and ending services due to the lack of staff.
Yet other states are declaring state of emergencies due to lack of R.N. staffing. Apparently registered nurses licensed in their states probably are traveling and being paid more money while the facilities are losing the services of those individuals are calling in their National Guard.
There seems to be so much division and so many ways of handling these issues. Facilities in some states are choosing to close, others are bringing in the National Guard while, yet others are suspending the COVID injection mandate.
This is a crazy and dizzying time for nurses, and it is now more important than ever for nurses to bind together. I don’t care if you believe in vaccines or not … GET TOGETHER and ask for the salaries and benefits worthy of you and require the conditions that you want to be instituted.
Nurses have so many opportunities now that they do not need to stay in places that do not value and respect them.
What are the biggest complaints of nurses? Lack of time, lack of staff, lack of resources, lack of support, etc. All of these are based in “lack.” Nurses are conditioned to accept the lack.
Yet, money is plentiful to the hospitals for treatment of COVID patients and that money should be used to invest in supporting staff and improving conditions. Money is also plentiful for health care organizations. Just look at all the construction at these facilities and amenities. For example, the CEO of Scripps here in San Diego gets paid over 2 million dollars a year. Yet, I am receiving donations requests from the Scripps Foundation. Imagine putting 1 million of the CEO’s salary toward improving conditions of nursing staff. If nurses continue to leave the bedside and hospitals close units, the CEO is not going to have a job. Nurses, now is the time to rise up, put our differences aside and get together to ask for what we want.
