Nurses at Providence Hospital say they’ll walk off the job in November if their demands for training, equipment, and pay in the face of treating possible Ebola patients aren’t met. News4’s Kristin Wright reports.
Nurses working at D.C.'s Providence Hospital plan to protest what they're calling the hospital's inadequate Ebola preparedness.
The one-day strike will be held starting at 7 a.m. Nov. 12, as part of a national day of action by National Nurses United (NNU), according to a news release.
"We want adequate gear that is impermeable and also that covers appropriately all the skin areas and we want a hood as well," Providence nurse Christianah Adepoju said.
The protest also stems from issues surrounding the time off the nurses would have to take for quarantine.
"If a nurse is taking care of a patient and they're exposed and they have to be quarantined... are they paid for that time, are they not paid for that time?" Corey Lanham, the union's chief negotiator at Providence, said. "Our proposal says if they're exposed at the hospital, then they should be paid for the time that they're out."
They will also address safe staffing and inequalities in wages and benefits.
According to Providence staff, the hospital will remain open the day of the strike.
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"While we are disappointed in this outcome, we remain committed to maintaining a collegial and productive atmosphere for continued negotiations with the NNU," a Providence official said in a statement to News4. "We are hopeful we can achieve a contract in the best interests of our nurses, our patients and the organization’s mission, and at the same time ensures the future viability of our hospital."
