OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) – More than 100 nurses voiced their concerns over staffing levels and working conditions at Tri-City Hospital in Oceanside.
The group of nurses, many of them holding signs, were outside of the medical center Friday morning to express their collective frustration with management, particularly regarding a recent decision to furlough dozens of workers.
Emergency room nurse Doris Turner said the staff has had trouble handling the number of patients that are coming in.
“Nearly all of our departments, we’re having to break each other to get breaks in. We have emergencies come in and no float nurses to take care of those patients because nurses are at capacity,” Turner said.
Turner said she is concerned that things will only get worse with the unknown that surrounds the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is less availability at this hospital right now to take care of patients than there was two months ago when this pandemic started,” she said.
10News reached out to hospital management to get their side of the story and they sent a statement that said, in part: “They are committed to providing the highest quality patient care and values the contributions of every team member … Tri-City continues to meet and exceed all applicable patient safety regulations.”
The nurses say they’ll keep pushing and getting their concerns out there until something is done.
