Additional Coverage:
Outside Providence Milwaukie Hospital in Milwaukie, Oregon, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, nurses rallied for the second consecutive day as part of a three-day walkout from six Providence Health hospitals involving over 3,000 nurses. Demonstrators could be seen with signs demanding prioritization of patient care over profits and ensuring safety within the hospital walls.
The strike spans across the state at six different Providence healthcare facilities, stretching from St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland to Medford Medical Center in the south.
This event marks the largest strike by nurses in Oregon’s history. Despite the walkout, Providence has reassured that patient care remains uncompromised, thanks to the temporary hiring of contract workers to cover staffing gaps.
Oregon Nurses Association’s chief of staff, Scott Palmer, highlighted the ongoing struggle since December to reach a satisfactory contract with Providence, focusing on better recruitment, retention, fair wages, benefits, and staffing levels.
To counter the impact of the strike on patient care, Providence’s Central Division Chief Nursing Officer, Jennifer Gentry, stated that a company had been contracted to bring in replacement workers. According to company spokesperson Gary Walker, the strike has yet to disrupt services, with approximately 800 people receiving care in their Emergency Departments on the first day of the strike and no delays in elective surgeries.
However, Palmer emphasized that while the striking nurses aim for patients to receive the required care, the protest is a call for more support for the caregivers themselves. He pointed out the severe burnout among nurses caused by low staffing levels, leading to an inability to adequately respond to patient needs, including delays in answering calls and even finding time for basic needs like lunch breaks or bathroom breaks.
He further mentioned that many nurses are leaving the profession due to the stress and moral injury from not being able to provide quality care, primarily due to unsafe staffing levels. Despite Oregon having a “safe staffing” law, Palmer notes the importance of including specific staffing levels in the contract, a point of contention in the negotiations.
The strike is set to conclude on Thursday, with the focus remaining on improving staffing and wage conditions for nurses to ensure both their welfare and the quality of patient care. A correction was also made to accurately title Jennifer Gentry as the Chief Nursing Officer for Providence’s Central Division.