CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Nurses at three New Jersey hospitals, including Cooper University Hospital in Camden, have voted to authorize a strike if an agreement isn’t reached before their contract expires on Friday.
Staff-to-patient ratios are the main sticking point for the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union.
“As nurses, we know how important it is to have enough nurses on a unit to provide the highest quality of care for our patients. And we know the right number of patients we should be responsible for during our shifts,” said Doris Bell, president of the Camden local 5118 chapter.
Union members say they are suffering from burnout and retention issues. Bell says nurses at Cooper overwhelmingly voted to strike if they are unable to get language to enforce staffing ratios in the new contract.
“Our nurses deserve safe staffing. Our patients deserve safe staffing. Safe staffing saves lives.”
HPAE President Debbie White says there are different ratios needed for different circumstances of patient care — for example: four patients per nurse in emergency settings, three patients per nurse in labor and delivery units.
“If your nurse is not overwhelmed and stressed out and burned out, they’re going to be present for patients,” White said.
White is also urging lawmakers to pass bills in the Legislature to require these staffing ratios by law.
“Unless we address the issue of safe staffing, nurses will continue to be a line item in a budget cut to its lowest number to maximize profits,” she said.
Cooper issued a statement saying staffing ratios have been part of the contract with nurses for 20 years. Cooper says it is continuing to negotiate in good faith with the union and has proposed significant pay increases, plus some of the strongest staff ratios in the state, as a demonstration of the health system’s commitment to nurse and patient safety.