U of M Health nurses call for understaffing and long hours in new contract push
Nurses, who are members of the U of M Professional Nurses Council, say the lack of staff has forced them to work overtime due to increased workloads.
Ann Arbor, Michigan (FOX 2) – A number of health nurses at the University of Michigan held a town hall rally to protest their working conditions for new contracts.
“The cracks are starting to appear,” says Adam Paulsen, a pediatric ICU nurse.
Nurses, who are members of the U of M Professional Nurses Council, say the lack of staff has forced them to work overtime due to increased workloads.
“I work 7pm to 7am, go home, go to bed four hours before I have to wake up, shower, eat, get four hours of sleep and a cup of cereal in a 16 hour shift. I went to work,” said Michael Hoban. , neonatal ICU nurse.
These nurses say all of this compromises the care they provide to their patients.
“We are drowning without seeing the surface,” said Melissa Carter, an adult emergency medical nurse. “Patients decompensated, went into cardiac arrest, and had psychotic and dementia patients wandering out of our buildings,” she said.
However, it continues to be recognized as Michigan’s safest hospital, according to the U of M Health, and was recently awarded nursing’s highest honor by the National Center for Nursing Qualification.
The U of M health said, “Patient safety is at the forefront of decision-making in staffing decisions, and this has delivered excellent safety results.”
“We continue to address scarce staff supplies, both with available medicines and resources, while caring for our sickest patients. I will not abandon
nurses right now‘ The Council is negotiating a new contract with the U of M.
The U of M said it was negotiating in good faith and that its current offer to the nurses union includes wage increases, an end to compulsory overtime and a $4,000 bonus for members of the bargaining department. .
Thursday’s city hall came shortly after the nurses’ union filed a lawsuit and unfair labor practices charges against the university.
The University of Michigan Health intends to vigorously defend itself in a lawsuit brought by the UM Professional Nurses Council.
The full statement from the University of Michigan Department of Health regarding negotiations with nurses is below.
“The University of Michigan Department of Health intends to vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit brought by the UM Professional Nurses Council.
“The University of Michigan Health puts patient safety first in its staffing decisions, which has resulted in excellent safety results. This healthcare system ranks among the safest hospitals in Michigan. It continues to be recognized as a
“Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that have designated UM Health with a five-star rating.
“US News & World Report named UM Health Michigan #1 hospital.
“The Leapfrog Group is the independent national oversight organization that has awarded UM Health a Patient Safety Grade ‘A’ for 10 consecutive years.
“Furthermore, the National Center for Nursing Credentials has awarded UM Health Magnet designation, nursing’s highest honor. Less than 10% of hospitals admit it.
“UM Health is one of eight hospitals in the country to be designated by Leapfrog, US News and CMS.
“We are continuing negotiations in good faith. Highlights of University of Michigan Health’s current contract offer to UMPNC include:
“Nurses get a 6% raise in the first year, 5% a year for the next three years, and a 21% increase in base salary.
“After the deal is signed, we will provide each member of the negotiating unit with a one-time $4000 bonus.
“Introduced a new salary step program for nurse practitioners with an average increase of 20% over four years.
“Safely eliminate forced overtime.
“Even though the labor contract has officially expired, health nurses at the University of Michigan will continue to work under the same terms and conditions as the expired contract and will be paid at the same rate as before the expiration.
“The University of Michigan Health is the clinical arm of Michigan Medicine.”
