The National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, is urging Ocala, Fla.-based Munroe Regional Medical Center and its owner, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, to reinstate registered nurses who they say were terminated after refusing assignments they believed illegal and unsafe for patients.
NNOC has filed a complaint with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration regarding the matter.
The MRMC administration reportedly told the RNs they would receive assignments for 10 or more patients on a Cardiology Medical Surgical Unit, which the nurses and NNOC believe are not in compliance with various state regulations, NNOC said via a news release.
"National nursing standards dictate that a safe nursing assignment for a Cardiology Med/Surg unit should be five patients to one nurse, never exceeding a sixth patient. We find it hard to believe that such an assignment with 10 or more patients would comply with the hospital staffing plans and policies which are required by Florida state regulation," NNOC Nursing Practice Specialist Gerard Brogan said.
NNOC said the hospital terminated three nurses who did not clock in for their assignment, although they were not previously told the potential consequences of such an action.
CHS referred Becker's Hospital Review to MRMC for comment. The hospital declined to comment, saying it was "inappropriate for us to comment on individual employee matters." MRMC officials did, however, say they "are committed to providing our patients with personalized, quality care and staff our units to support this."
More articles on human capital and risk:
Nomad Health nurse staffing tool takes cue from online dating sites
Mayo Clinic nurses in Albert Lea, Austin reach labor deal
NewYork-Presbyterian sees backlash over ties to furniture company