"Our hospitals are not adhering to the safe staffing ratios law," said Allen Fitzpatrick, RN who works at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco. "We need someone to stand up for safe RN-to-patient staffing."

"We have a comprehensive staffing proposal on the table because no matter how much care a patient requires our hospital won't add nurses and has eliminated our aides," said Susan Johnson, an Obstetrics RNs at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

RNs also want to stop the practice of some of the hospitals that mandate RNs to "float" - work in clinical areas outside their expertise, training, and orientation - which puts patients at risk. Additionally, the RNs are insisting that hospitals withdraw efforts to reduce healthcare benefits by shifting more costs to nurses and reducing coverage options. In several areas, hospitals are also demanding a wage freeze.

"As nurses, we see the consequences when employers reduce coverage, it's disgraceful to see our hospitals taking the same step," said Debra Amour RN at Seton Medical Center in Daly City. "Such demands, would also sharply undermine the ability of the hospitals to keep nurses at the bedside and recruit new RNs."

SOURCE California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee