Registered nurses at Mercy Medical Center Redding (MMCR), in Redding, Calif. will hold a speakout and rally on Thursday, May 21, 2026 to sound the alarm on their concerns about the facility’s collapse in services for their cancer patients. After months of protracted discussions over short staffing, high turnover, and declining patient outcomes, Mercy RNs — who are represented by California Nurses Association — are demanding that CommonSpirit, MMCR’s parent organization, invest in and scale up its existing oncology services.  

“As an RN, I am committed to the safety and well-being of my patients. Time and time again, we have watched Mercy outpatient oncology make decisions driven by algorithms that have life- altering consequences for our patients. They deserve better!” said Jennifer George, a clinic RN and oncology nurse representative.  

Mercy outpatient oncology clinic has made operational decisions driven by corporate “productivity” algorithms instead of investing in the RN staffing needed for safe patient care. As a result of short staffing and a collapse in provider networks, Mercy has sent out hundreds of denial-of-care letters to patients. Meanwhile, Mercy continues with its $70 million-plus project to build a comprehensive cancer center without a viable plan to staff it or scale up its operations to meet the needs of its patients. Nurses warn that if Mercy cannot currently be trusted to competently run its existing cancer services, the new cancer center will likely be a disaster.  

Who: Mercy outpatient oncology clinic RNs
What: Speakout on hospital’s failure to provide oncology services
When: Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m.
Where: 2936 Henderson Road, Redding, Calif.

“We are committed to providing the best care we can at Mercy outpatient oncology. However, if the situation doesn’t improve, this new building will be inoperable due to a lack of providers and support staff. Patients will have to seek services elsewhere or out of region,” said Dominic Storer, an adult infusion RN. 

CNA represents nearly/more than 700 registered nurses and health care workers at Mercy Medical Center Redding. 

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.