St. Charles Nurses Picket For Staffing Changes

Members of the local nurses union at held what they called an "information picketing" for two hours on Wednesday to protest what they feel are unsafe conditions at the facility due to layoffs.

The nurses say that they are protesting their assignments saying that their ability to provide quality patient care has been impeded because of the lack of nurses on the floor.

"We are trying to bring to light to the public staffing issues and concerns we have here at St. Charles," said Michael Healy, the local president of the New York State Nurses Union at the hospital. "There is a major problem with ongoing staffing shortages."

In a statement that the hospital said it was "disappointed that the union representing St. Charles Hospital’s nurses, has chosen to launch a public campaign representing nurse-to-patient staffing at the hospital as inadequate."

St. Charles Hospital asserts that the nurse-to-patient staffing ratio is within the guidlines that the hospital and union negotiated in their last contract three years ago.

"The guidelines vary by department and are based on census and acuity of patients," said a spokesperson for the hospital.

The hospital said that it will continue to negotiate with New York State Nurses Association and hopes to come to a settlement.