Registered nurses at Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) in Lancaster, California will hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening to protest eroding patient care conditions at the hospital and the administration’s hard-line stance in talks for a new contract. Some 900 RNs at the facility are represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. RNs cite deteriorating care conditions, especially in safe staffing, at the hospital that they say are consistently putting patients at risk on a daily basis.

In a major win for nurses, patients and three Texas communities, registered nurses in El Paso, Corpus Christi and Brownsville gave final approval to contracts yesterday in first-ever collective bargaining agreements. The agreements make significant strides for working conditions for RNs, patient care standards and the quality of care at the four facilities.

Registered nurses who live and work in Congressman Dan Benishek’s district today asked him to name his price to hold a public town hall so the patients they take care of every day know how much they have to pay to express concerns and publicly ask questions about his plan to end Medicare and make them pay thousands of dollars more for health care each year. Just a week after spending days in Florida generating support for re-election from fellow Republicans, Benishek will head to Grand Rapids on Wednesday for a $1,000-a-person fundraiser with special guest U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

“We’re glad to see Sparrow officials taking steps to protect staff and patients. Nurses and other healthcare professionals should not have to worry about being attacked while helping others, yet far too often they experience violence on the job. These matters must be taken seriously. The Michigan Nurses Association also continues to push for state legislation that strengthens penalties against those who assault healthcare workers. Everything possible should be done to ensure that our hospitals are safe for all health care professionals and every patient we take care of.”

“The nurses at Franklin Medical Center with this vote have said that they will not accept proposals that will cut into their ability to deliver quality patient care, they will not allow Baystate to take away their union rights, and they will stand and fight to protect their community hospital. Most of our members are life time, or long time community members. Franklin Medical Center is our hospital and we will continue our struggle to keep it a community hospital,” said Donna Stern, RN co-chair of the 209 member bargaining unit.

CHEBOYGAN – As Congress continues its 5-week recess, the Michigan Nurses Association renewed its call today for Congressman Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls) to take a break from campaigning and hold public town hall meetings to discuss his votes to end Medicare while giving millionaires additional tax breaks. Michigan Citizen Action and Protect Your Care Michigan joined the nurses in demanding that Benishek, who is in Florida this week for the National Republican Convention, listen to the concerns of his constituents at home.