OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Some 2,000 registered nurses from across California will rally on the steps of the State Capitol Wednesday to protest the decision of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to erode a state law that will seriously undermine safety protections for hospital patients, the California Nurses Association announced today.
What: Rally of 2,000 RNs When: Wednesday, December 1 Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: State Capitol, North Steps at L St., Sacramento
In early November, Gov. Schwarzenegger issued an executive order to roll back key provisions of the California law requiring safe RN hospital staffing. His edict was made at the specific request of the state’s multi-billion hospital industry which is among the special interests that have contributed more than $26 million to the governor in his first year.
The executive order was based on media reports, citing a hospital industry public relations campaign, CNA noted. No data or studies were presented, just select newspaper articles, as justification. By contrast, scores of scientific studies have documented the direct correlation between safe RN staffing and reduced patient deaths.
“It is disgraceful that this governor has put hospital profits and the wish list of the hospital corporations ahead of patient safety,” said CNA President Deborah Burger, RN. “Thousands of California patients will be placed at risk of preventable death or permanent injury as a result of the governor’s political decision to weaken the law to please his industry friends.”
Buses will bring RNs from throughout Northern California, and hundreds of Southern California RNs are flying to Sacramento to join the rally.
“No issue is of greater importance to nurses than the safety of their patients and our ability to provide the care our patients need,” said Burger. “We’ve made great progress the past year in improving care conditions in California hospitals and reducing the nursing shortage. The governor’s action jeopardizes all the gains Californians have won as a result of this law.”
Burger challenged the claim that erosion of the law was needed because of hospital industry financial problems. From 2001 through 2003, California hospitals reported a total of $11.7 billion in profits, “hardly a sign of economic distress,” she noted.
California Nurses Association
CONTACT: Charles Idelson of California Nurses Association,+1-510-273-2246 or +1-415-559-8991 (cell)
Web site: http://www.calnurse.org/