RNs at USC Keck & Norris Hospitals missed thousands of meal and rest breaks last year

Registered nurses at University of Southern California (USC) Keck Medicine and USC Norris Cancer Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Tuesday, Nov. 25, to highlight their patient safety concerns, including short-staffing, break relief, and safe working conditions. Nurses at the USC facilities are represented by California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

“Our patients are our number one priority,” said Gina Vergara, RN in the intensive care unit. “And in order to care for them safely, we must have the resources to do so.”

Who: RNs at USC Keck Medicine & USC Norris Cancer Hospital
What: Informational picket for patient safety and a fair contract
When: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Where: USC Keck Hospital, 1500 San Pablo St., Los Angeles, Calif.; in front of the main entrance to the hospital on San Pablo

Nurses at USC Keck Medicine and USC Norris Cancer Hospital have been sounding alarms on unsafe staffing conditions for several months. One outcome of unsafe staffing is nurses missing thousands of rest or meal breaks during their shifts last year. According to information provided by the hospital, in 2024, RNs missed 4,023 rest breaks and 10,437 meal breaks, and the number of breaks missed in 2025 is likely to surpass that.

“The types of patients that we deal with in the neuro ICU are extremely complex and require focus and attention from their Nurse,” said Allysha Shin, RN in the neurological intensive care unit. “When I’m unable to take a break because of short staffing and I become dehydrated and fatigued, I’m unable to provide the best possible care to my patients. If the hospital cares about patient safety, they will make meaningful movement on their proposals for safe staffing ratios.”

CNA represents nearly 1,800 registered nurses at USC Keck Hospital & USC Norris Cancer Hospital.

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.