In 2023, there have been three notable votes of no confidence from nurses and healthcare workers in hospitals, CEOs or health system employers.
Though rare, votes of no confidence from hospital employees in their CEO or health system when not addressed often lead to striking, protests and disengaged workers.
Here's a look at three incidents of no confidence votes taken by healthcare employees in 2023:
- In March, 95 percent of workers at Care New England's Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, R.I., cast a vote of "no confidence" in their employer over staffing and safety concerns. One nurse stated in a news release that the system is so understaffed that sometimes she has been responsible for up to 29 patients at a time. Care New England noted it was dedicated to addressing the issues raised.
- Nurses at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Wash., collectively voted "no confidence" in the company's CEO in May over staffing levels and burnout. The vote included 750 nurses and was unanimous. The system noted it aims to address nurses' concerns and negotiate fairly.
- Employees of Hunter's Ambulance who are union members of the Local 294 chapter of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics, took a vote of "no confidence" in Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare in late May, the Hartford Courant reported. Paramedics and EMTs employed by the system have not had a contract since 2021, and rejected the most recent offer from the health system.