Forum: Providence must work with nurses to ensure patient safety

The hospital should bargain in good faith to ensure better staffing, resources and accountability.

By Julie Bynum / For The Herald

Over the past two years, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett has experienced a staggering loss of more than 600 nurses. While some have been rehired, the ongoing shortage persists, I and others believe putting patients’ lives in jeopardy.

Before 2022, I cared for a manageable load of four patients per shift. Nowadays, it’s common for me to care for six to seven patients per shift, while night shift registered nurses are tasked with handling seven to eight patients. Alarming research indicates that mortality rates significantly rise when a nurse cares for more than four medical-surgical patients; mortality increases by 7 percent with five patients and by 14 percent with six patients. It’s shocking that Providence’s management considers this situation acceptable. While a staffing shortage persists in health care, the staffing crisis at PRMCE is unique in our region and has led to severe patient safety issues.

On August 16, the hospital placed a full-page ad in this paper implying a lack of good faith from nurses and our union, UFCW Local 3000, in negotiations. To clarify, they are referring to the seven nurses at the bargaining table representing the nearly 1,400 nurses at the hospital’s campuses. Nurses understand the necessary solutions to address the staffing crisis and enhance patient safety. Despite this, PRMCE directs its efforts toward tarnishing our bargaining team’s reputation, misleading the public in the process. This is disheartening.

PRMCE nurses unite to champion patient safety. Our proposals tackle the crisis head-on:

• Empowerment through collaboration: Nurses and PRMCE collaborate to devise safety-focused solutions.

• Third-party mediation: Binding mediation to resolve long-standing staffing issues impartially.

• Effective resource allocation: Consultations with the chief nursing officer to ensure proper allocation for safety.

• Accountability mechanisms: PRMCE commit to meeting staffing goals, eschewing lip service.

These proposals align with the law, expediting solutions through our union contract. Nurses seek a voice in care-affecting decisions, and transparent staffing processes bolster effective solutions.

Patients deserve quality care without their lives hanging in the balance because of inadequate staffing. It’s time Providence Regional Medical Center Everett acknowledges the gravity of this situation, engages in sincere collaboration, and prioritizes patient safety above public relations strategies. The well-being of our community depends on their course of action.

Julie Bynum is a registered nurse at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Saturday, Feb. 8

A sketechy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Feb. 7

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Schwab: Trump proves not as bad as feared; it’s worse

Taking food and medicine from kids; surrendering control to Musk; is this what you voted for?

Keep necessary homeless service program at its Everett location

Regarding The Herald’s front-page coverage of the Hope ‘N Wellness community services… Continue reading

We can’t afford the rich not paying their fair share

In a recent column, Todd Welch claims that a wealth tax on… Continue reading

Can we find a politically moderate path, please?

I was just wondering what happened to the moderates. I am a… Continue reading

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Students need limits on cellphones in school

School districts needn’t wait for legislation to start work on policies to limit phones in class.

Kristof: World’s richest men take on world’s poorest people

Trump says the USAID is run by ‘radical lunitics.’ Is saving countless lives now lunacy.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.