GREENBRIER COUNTY, W.Va. — Some registered nurses at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte claim declining hospital conditions are threatening patient care quality at the Greenbrier County facility.
To draw attention to issues of short staffing, inadequate supplies and maintenance, RNs represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee and National Nurses United are scheduled to be part an informational picket on Saturday evening starting at 5:30 p.m.
The picket location will be outside GVMC in Ronceverte.
“We’re holding the picket to let the public know that we’re advocating for them, so that if they come to our hospital they can get great care,” said Tara Brammer, a nurse in GVMC’s Intensive Care Unit.
Brammer said while the medical center is offering sign-on bonuses and increased pay, it is not doing enough to address staff shortages, a leading concern.
“When we’re short-staffed, you’re giving us more patients and you’re putting them and their health at risk,” she said.
Contract negotiations have been going on for seven years, which Brammer described as “too long.”
“We just need a strong contract,” she said. “We need them to allow our nurses to have the ability to speak out and give input, and help us get a strong contract so that we can have what we need to care for our patients.”
A representative with Greenbrier Valley Medical Center confirmed the hospital had received notice of Saturday’s planned informational picket and provided the following statement to MetroNews:
“As always, the hospital’s top priority is the care and safety of our patients, employees and visitors. All hospital services and patient care will continue without interruption.”
The informational picket is scheduled to wrap up at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.