Nurses at Albany Medical Center gathered outside the hospital on Tuesday to raise concerns about the unsafe staffing levels that they believe are jeopardizing patient safety. Despite numerous complaints about understaffing with the state Department of Health, the hospital’s management has allegedly failed to adhere to staffing laws and maintain safety standards, according to the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA).
In December, nurses filed two complaints citing insufficient staffing in critical care units as a common occurrence at the hospital. The union has informed that the state’s Department of Health is investigating the matter. NICU nurse Jennifer Kiehle mentioned that when nurses raise concerns about unsafe staffing, they are reprimanded by management for protesting assignments. This contributes to nurse burnout and high turnover rates.
The nurses’ demonstration coincides with ongoing contract negotiations with the hospital, as the current union contract is set to expire at the end of July. When contacted by Spectrum News 1 for comment, Albany Medical Center’s spokesperson stated that they regularly undergo planned and unplanned visits from the Department of Health. As of now, the findings from the most recent visit are yet to be disclosed.
