Registered nurses at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center will hold a large protest today to protest what they say are wildly misplaced priorities as the hospital hands out huge pay increases for top executives and sets hospital charges at well beyond their cost while pushing major cuts for patients and registered nurses. Sutter’s East Bay Regional President David Bradley received pay increases of 64 percent, 43 percent and 19 percent the last three years, 2010 through 2012, and now draws a salary of just under $2 million a year, according to Sutter IRS filings.

New data released by the nation’s largest nurses’ organization reveals that Tennessee hospitals are among the most costly in the nation, helping fuel a growing scandal of high hospital charges and costs. Tennessee ranks fifth nationally in how high it sets its charges over its costs, with a statewide average charge of 430 percent as a percent of total costs. In other words, the average Tennessee hospital charges $430 for every $100 of its total costs. That’s well above the national average of 331 percent.

Nurses Warn of Ongoing Harm for Patients Needing Care. New data released by the nation’s largest nurses’ organization reveals that California hospitals are among the most costly in the nation, helping fuel a growing scandal of high hospital charges and costs. California ranks third nationally in how high it sets its charges over its costs, with a statewide average charge of 451 percent as a percent of total costs. In other words, the average California hospital charges $451 for every $100 of its total costs. That’s well above the national average of 331 percent.

Part of National Nurses' Ongoing Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda Relief Effort. While many are settling back into regular routines after the holiday break, registered nurse Diane McClure, an RN at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center in Sacramento, CA is starting the new year by traveling to the Philippines to provide medical support for those who continue to be affected by the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

New data released by the nation’s largest nurses’ organization reveals that Nevada hospitals are among the most costly in the nation, helping fuel a growing scandal of high hospital charges and costs. Nevada ranks fourth nationally in how high it sets its charges over its costs, with a statewide average charge of 448 percent as a percent of total costs. In other words, the average Nevada hospital charges $448 for every $100 of its total costs. That’s well above the national average of 331 percent.

While many are settling back into regular routines after the holiday break, David Abeles an RNat Arise Medical Center in Austin, Texas, is starting the new year by traveling to the Philippines where he will provide medical support for those who continue to be affected by the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.

ORLANDO--In the critical care nursery at WPH, where more than half of the RNs filled out the survey, 80 percent of RNs indicated that staffing is never or at best sometimes adequate, and 73 percent said that patients are sicker.

While many are settling back into regular routines after the holiday break, a group of registered nurses from across the country are starting the new year by preparing for their deployment to the Philippines where they will provide medical support for those who continue to be affected by the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.