Media Advisory - Rally to Protest Registered Nurse Cuts, Understaffing at Arnprior Regional Hospital
ARNPRIOR, ON, March 19, 2018 /CNW/ - Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) will join hospital workers from two other unions to protest RN cuts and understaffing that they believe is harming patient care at Arnprior Regional Hospital.
The ONA members are joining hospital workers from CUPE and OPSEU to increase public awareness of nursing cuts, understaffing and occupational health and safety issues that are negatively impacting both workers and the quality of patient care at the hospital.
The nurses and health-care professionals will leave from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 174 beginning at 11:30 am, arriving at the hospital's main entrance at noon on Tuesday, March 20. The event will wrap up at 1 pm.
Arnprior Regional Hospital has announced it is cutting three full-time RNs from its inpatient unit, leaving holes in the nursing schedule over the coming months and understaffing in its wake. ONA believes the RN cuts are leaving patients at risk, as research has shown that fewer RNs equate to increased patient complications and morbidity rates.
The nurses will march carrying placards noting that 'RNs Save Lives' and 'Patients Need Safe Staffing Levels Now.' Nurses are working many shifts short-staffed now.
ONA Region 2 Vice-President, Bernadette Robinson, will join the protestors and speak at the rally.
ONA is the union representing 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 16,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
WHAT: |
Rally to Protest RN Cuts, Understaffing at Arnprior Regional Hospital |
WHERE: |
Arnprior Legion to Arnprior Regional Hospital main entrance |
WHEN: |
11:30 am to 1 pm, March 20, 2018 |
WHO: |
Ontario Nurses' Association, CUPE and OPSEU front-line members, ONA Region 2 Vice-President, Bernadette Robinson |
Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association
For further information: Sheree Bond: (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; [email protected]
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