Short staffed with long hours, UM Health nurses push for better working conditions

Ann Arbor, Mich. (FOX 2) – Many University of Michigan health nurses held a town hall rally to protest their working conditions as they push for a new contract.

“The cracks are starting to show — our retention is going down, our nurses are stressed, burned out, and overworked,” said Adam Paulson, a pediatric ICU nurse.

The nurses, members of the U of M Professional Nurses Council, say they are short-staffed, leading to heavy workloads and forced overtime.

“I worked from 1 a.m. to 1 a.m., went home, slept four hours to get up, shower, eat and go to work, a 16-hour shift with four hours of sleep and a bowl of cereal,” Michael Hoban said. , neonatal ICU nurse.

They say that all these nurses are ruining the care they give to patients.

“We’re literally drowning,” said Melissa Carter, an adult emergency medicine nurse. “Patients collapsed, went into cardiac arrest, mental and psychiatric patients left our building.”

But U of M Health continues to be recognized as Michigan’s safest hospital and the American Nurses Credentialing Center has recently given it top honors in nursing.

According to U of M Health, it “makes staffing decisions with patient safety at the forefront of its decisions, which has resulted in superior safety outcomes.”

“We continue to have short staffing supplies – both available drugs and resources, all while caring for the sickest patients. And our commitment to patients remains unwavering,” said Emergency Department Renee Curtis.

Now nurses‘ Council is negotiating a new contract with the U of M – they are working on a contract that expires on July 1st.

The U of M bargaining is in good faith and the current offer to the nurses union includes wage increases, elimination of mandatory overtime and $4,000 bonuses for members of the bargaining unit.

The Thursday Municipal Nurses Association is filing a lawsuit against the university, alleging unfair labor practices.

University of Michigan Health plans to vigorously defend the lawsuit filed by the um Professional Nurses Council.

Below is the full statement from University of Michigan Health on the nurse negotiation.

“University of Michigan Health plans to defend itself against lawsuit filed by UM Council of Professional Nurses.

“University of Michigan Health puts patient safety at the forefront of its staffing decisions, and this has resulted in impressive safety results. The health system is consistently recognized as Michigan’s safest hospital by top agencies, including:

“The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services named UM Health a 5-star rating.

US News & World Report named UM Health Michigan’s #1 hospital.

“The Leapfrog Group, an independent national monitoring organization, has recognized UM Health with an “A” patient safety rating for 10 consecutive years.

“In addition, the American Nurses Credentialing Center awarded UM Health with Magnet Design, nursing’s top honor, which recognizes less than 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for quality patient care and nursing excellence.

“UM Health is one of eight hospitals recognized by Leapfrog, US News and CMS designations.

“We will continue to negotiate in good faith. University of Michigan Health’s current contract for UMPNC includes:

“Giving nurses a 6% raise in the first year and 5% per year for the next three years, representing a 21% increase in base pay.

“Giving a one-time $4,000 bonus to each member of the negotiating team after a contract is signed.

“Introducing a new salary scale program for nurses with an average increase of 20% over four years.

“Abolishing Mandatory Overtime Safely.

“Despite the formal termination of the labor agreement, University of Michigan Health nurses continue to work under the same terms and conditions as the expired contract and will be paid the same rate as before the expiration.”

“University of Michigan Health is a clinical division of Michigan Medicine.”