Union nurses surveyed say they 'lack belief' of their NJ hospital – New Jersey 101.5 FM

The union representing nurses at a Monmouth County hospital has launched survey outcomes exhibiting an absence of belief in hospital administration — whereas the hospital slams the survey and abstract as “devoid of information” and “self-serving propaganda.”

A survey was carried out amongst Jersey Shore College Medical Heart union members of Well being Professionals and Allied Staff, by HPAE Native 5058, from Dec. 31, 2021 by July 19.

Simply over half of respondents mentioned they’d not really feel protected being handled as a affected person on the hospital, in response to a place paper on the survey.

HPAE additionally mentioned that “Unionized nurses at JSUMC reported not feeling their efforts are supported by hospital administration, nor do they really feel revered or protected.”

The union represents registered nurses and different healthcare staff in hospitals, nursing properties, blood banks and clinics in each New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“Hackensack Meridian Well being has managed to painting themselves as a worthy funding and but there may be little accountability for the way they’ve invested in enhancing employee and affected person security of their services. In fact, it’s a billion-dollar, extremely worthwhile company that capitalizes off the labor of overworked underpaid employees, whereas the company is rewarded with report earnings,” in response to the conclusion of the union’s survey outcomes.

“Devoid of information”

“HPAE’s survey and white paper are devoid of information and must be scrutinized intently for his or her motives and timing. It’s a self-serving propaganda piece timed to coincide with their present contract negotiations,” Hackensack Meridian Well being Public Relations Director Ben Goldstein mentioned in a written assertion to New Jersey 101.5 on Friday.

Amongst JSMU nurses who responded to the roughly 6-month union survey that resulted in July:

— 77% mentioned their workload is commonly extreme

— 88% mentioned their work efficiency is impaired when the workload is extreme

— 78% mentioned that staffing ranges of their medical space are inadequate to deal with the variety of sufferers

— 61% mentioned the hospital doesn’t do an excellent job of coaching new personnel

“The reality is that Hackensack Meridian Well being has invested thousands and thousands of {dollars} into our group members and opened negotiations early to get that cash to the union members. Our nurses imply every thing to us. They’re true American heroes who deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.”

Combating employees shortages

“Attracting and retaining nursing expertise is at a crucial juncture. Pandemic fatigue, early retirements and burnout have solely exacerbated nursing shortages throughout the nation, and New Jersey isn’t any exception,” Goldstein mentioned within the well being community’s written assertion.

“Now we have put in place a number of methods to make sure that we now have extremely certified bedside registered nurses to take care of our sufferers. Our community carried out an across-the-board 3% compensation improve for all group members, added retention bonuses to stabilize crucial areas and moved up our wage ranges to be aggressive available in the market,” he continued.

“We stand by our confirmed report of defending all of our group members and our sufferers, particularly throughout probably the most difficult well being disaster our nation has confronted in a century. Our group members are the spine of our group and have been on the entrance traces of this disaster. We’ll proceed to do every thing we are able to to guard them and cleared the path within the struggle in opposition to COVID-19,” Hackensack Meridian Well being’s response continued.

The healthcare supplier’s written assertion additionally mentioned that the community led the best way when it got here to security and safety throughout the “unprecedented pandemic,” together with being the primary within the state to require common masking in hospitals.

Different efforts included:

— Implementing a vaccine mandate to maintain group members and communities protected, attaining a 99.8% vaccination fee, one of many highest within the nation.

— HMH was the primary within the state to implement common testing of group members who labored in long-term care services earlier than New Jersey mandated such protections.

— We invested thousands and thousands within the provide chain to supply and monitor PPE all through the globe firstly of the pandemic. We had and proceed to have ample provides together with robes, gloves, N-95 masks, surgical masks, face shields and different important safety.

— Our medical leaders additionally up to date front-line groups in actual time on quickly altering protocols from the CDC concerning correct use of PPE.

Fired nurse throughout COVID

The union survey paper additionally talked about circumstances round a Jersey Shore College hospital nurse, Adam Witt, who was fired in spring 2020.

The hospital and the union have been at odds over the state of affairs because it unfolded over two years in the past — the union has mentioned Witt, former president of HPAE Native 5058, had complained a couple of lack of correct PPE within the first weeks of the pandemic, which the hospital has denied as trigger for his termination.

Nancy Corcoran-Davidoff, then-Hackensack Meridian Well being Govt Vice President, previously slammed the union’s reported 2020 office complaints to OSHA and NLRB as “unfounded and incorrect.”

Corcoran-Davidoff retired a yr later in April 2021.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You possibly can attain her at [email protected]

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