The unionized nurses made their request in a petition delivered to officials last month, according to the report. Nearly 70 signatures are on the petition.
The petition contends “a lack of staffing has led to nurses having to cover phones when they should be working with patients” and “that charge nurses, who are supposed to oversee department operations, are being assigned patients in violation of their contract,” among other allegations, the report states.
MCMH stood behind the hospital’s practices in a statement obtained by The Ellsworth American.
“We strongly believe that Maine Coast is abiding by all contractual obligations,” hospital officials said. “Charge nurses are always available as a resource to nursing staff. As agreed through collective bargaining, there are times, because of higher numbers of patients or patient acuity, that charge nurses are assigned to care for patients.”
Read the full report here.
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