Maine State Nurses Association | National Nurses United

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Maine State Nurses Association campaign for safe staffing ratios

Maine nurses are standing up for nurse and patient safety by supporting L.D. 1639, “The Maine Quality Care Act”. Our union strongly supports this bill, sponsored by state Senator Stacy Brenner, RN.

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100+ Maine nurses, community members protest Mount Desert Island Hospital obstetrics department closure

Local community members joined more than 100 nurses today in Bar Harbor, Maine to protest the closure of Mount Desert Island Hospital’s (MDIH) obstetrics department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

May 8, 2025

Group of nurses in front of "Gateway Crossing" bridge with huge print out of petition signatures

Houlton Regional Hospital nurses and community members hold candlelight vigil to protest planned department closure

Tonight, nurses from Houlton Regional Hospital’s (HRH) Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) unit were again joined by scores of community members for a candlelight vigil in a protest against the proposed closure of their hospital’s LDRP department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

April 23, 2025

Three nurses inside hospital standing side-by-side

Houlton nurses, community to hold candlelight vigil protesting planned hospital unit closure

Following a standing room only town hall meeting earlier this month, Houlton Regional Hospital nurses and community members will gather for a candlelight vigil tomorrow, April 23, at Houlton Riverfront Park as they continue to demand that the hospital’s administration cancel plans to close their Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum department.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

April 22, 2025

Four nurses inside hospital standing side-by-side

Houlton Regional Hospital nurses at town hall meeting: Planned closure of labor and delivery unit must be stopped

Nurses from Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum unit at Houlton Regional Hospital held a town hall meeting to address news that their hospital’s administration plans to permanently close their department and what it will mean for patients seeking obstetrics care in their region. The event was held at the Millar Civic Center in Houlton and was attended by over 200 community supporters.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

April 9, 2025

Four nurses inside hospital standing side-by-side

Houlton Regional Hospital nurses holding town hall meeting on planned closure of labor and delivery unit

Responding to the news that Houlton Regional Hospital (HRH) plans to close its Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) department, HRH nurses will hold a town hall meeting Wednesday, April 9. Nurses were informed of the planned closure last week and say it is a disastrous decision for patients across their region, who could face much longer travel times to seek labor and delivery care.

Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

April 8, 2025

Large group of people outside holding signs "Cancel the Closure"

RNs protest obstetrics closures

Vital obstetrics services are in crisis in Maine. On March 27, Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, a town about an hour southeast of Bangor, announced that it would be closing its obstetrics (OB) department on July 1. A week later, Houlton Regional Hospital in Houlton, announced that it would be shutting down its Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) unit on May 2.

July 9, 2025

Large group of nurses standing outside hospital holding signs "We're here for our patients"

Maine nurses vindicated

The Maine Department of Labor issued a citation in late February to Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) for regulatory violations, including misclassifying nurses as subcontractors, failing to pay nurses overtime, failing to pay nurses their wages in a timely manner, and requiring nurses to sign contracts that exempted NMMC from Maine’s labor laws.

April 11, 2025

Group of nurses standing outside in cold weather holding banner "Bedside Nurses Support Ratios"

Maine nurses press on for ratios bill

Maine nurses recently moved safe staffing legislation the farthest a state bill has progressed in the past 20 years. Pine Tree State RNs applauded the Maine Senate for passing L.D. 1639, The Maine Quality Care Act on March 27 but unfortunately did not make it to a vote in the House before the legislative session ended on April 17. Nurses vow to keep fighting for ratios.

June 5, 2024

Large group of Machias nurses and techs on the strike line with lots of picket signs about staffing and retention

Machias nurses and techs hold historic first strike

Registered nurses and technicians at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Maine, held a two-day strike on April 30 and May 1 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ and techs’ concerns about recruitment, retention, and safe staffing.

June 5, 2024

Group of NMMC nurses at union election

Fort Kent nurses unionize

In January, registered nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, Maine, voted overwhelmingly, 62 percent in favor, to join Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

March 29, 2024