Nurses at Mission Hospital vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike

RNs at Mission Hospital demand HCA address patient safety concerns

Registered nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C. voted 97 percent in favor to authorize their nurse bargaining team to call a strike, should they deem it necessary, as HCA has refused to address numerous patient safety issues. Nurses at Mission Hospital are represented by National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).

Nurses say they're frustrated with management's refusal to move forward on key nurse proposals regarding nurse retention and ensuring meal and rest breaks for nurses. RNs engaged at the bargaining table say HCA has failed to meet their demands, which they say are essential to safe, high-quality patient care at their hospital.

"Nurses come to the bargaining table with one main goal: to ensure a strong contract so that every patient gets the highest quality of care," said Kerri Wilson, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital. "But it is clear that HCA is more invested in maximizing profits than ensuring we have the staff and the resources to protect our patients' safety. With this strike authorization vote, we are making it clear to HCA that we will do whatever needs to be done to improve patient care."

A strike vote does not mean that a strike is currently scheduled. Rather, this vote authorizes the bargaining team of nurse representatives to call a strike if they deem it necessary to successfully resolve contract negotiations. If nurses decide to move forward with a strike, they would provide hospital management with 10 days' notice to allow time for planning for patient care. At any time in the process, the nurses have the option of calling off the strike if an agreement with HCA is reached.

Since HCA took over Mission Hospital in 2019, nurses and other hospital staff have consistently raised concerns about the deterioration of care at Mission Hospital. Earlier this month, Wake Forest University released a working draft analysis of the changes in patient care at the hospital since HCA took over. The report including several scathing key findings including:

• "Many physicians from Asheville's esteemed medical community have left or have ceased using Mission Hospital regularly, due to dissatisfaction with either (or both) the quality of care at HCA Mission or with HCA's reduction in their financial support."
• "HCA has slashed staffing among nurses and other patient-care functions, leading to a host of complaints, from both patients and medical professionals, about patient care and safety."
• "Serious understaffing issues have caused a multi-faceted debacle in Mission's emergency room, resulting in an avalanche of complaints and a series of documented deaths and substantial injuries arising from delays or mistakes in medical treatment."

"It is heartbreaking to read the findings of this report and to know in our bones that this is the reality of what is happening inside our community's hospital," said Elle Kruta, a registered nurse at Mission Hospital. "As patient advocates, it is our duty to stand up for our patients and make it clear to HCA that sacrificing patient care for profit is immoral and will not be tolerated. A strong contract is an important step in rebuilding our hospital so we can recruit and retain experienced nurses."

Nurses began negotiating their new contract with HCA in April. Their most recent contract expired July 30. NNOC/NNU represents more than 1,600 registered nurses at Mission Hospital.

Registered nurses at Mission Hospital are among nearly 10,000 NNOC/NNU-represented RNs who are currently in negotiations with HCA for new contracts at 17 hospitals in six states. A for-profit company, HCA is one of the nation's largest and wealthiest health care providers.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.