For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Staffing Shortages and Lack of Respect Cited as Top Concerns in AFSCME Nurses Survey
Union Representation Viewed as Beneficial
Washington, DC —A recent survey conducted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO, reveals that staffing shortages and lack of respect top a list of concerns for members of the United Nurses of America — the nursing arm of the union. The survey was conducted during AFSCME's 8th National Nurses Congress in Chicago, in order to learn more about both the nurses and their workplaces.
When asked to indicate which issues have a negative impact on the quality of their work experience, more than 400 nurses attending the conference ranked inadequate staffing as their number one concern. AFSCME nurses report that they are increasingly concerned that an insufficient nursing pool is jeopardizing the quality of care that patients receive. Not only are there not enough nurses to do what needs to be done on any given shift, but also the nurses who are on duty are fatigued and stressed.
AFSCME nurses also include lack of respect, burdensome paperwork and mandatory overtime among their concerns. Nurses complain that the paperwork burden diminishes time available to spend on patient care, while the routine use of mandatory overtime results in nurses working dangerously long hours. The explosion in the use of mandatory overtime to fill staffing needs has nurses routinely working back-to-back shifts. Nurses fear that pure exhaustion makes it impossible to ensure their patients' and their own safety.
When asked which issues in the work setting have a positive impact on the quality of their work experience, an overwhelming majority said having a union has the most positive impact. Union representation has given nurses a number of benefits, including protections against harassment and grievance procedures to combat offensive behavior.
AFSCME represents over 50,000 nurses who work in a variety of health care settings across the country.
