Chino Valley Nurses Win Voice in Patient Care

April 2010

California - Nurses at Chino Valley Medical Center (CVMC) voted to join approximately 19,000 Registered Nurses and other health care professionals in Southern California represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), gaining a voice in the workplace. In a show of solidarity, Chino Valley nurses voted by a strong majority to join UNAC/UHCP during the two-day election held on Thursday and Friday.

"As nurses, we want to create a work environment that makes it possible for us to provide the highest quality of care to our patients," said Teer Lina, RN, BSN, in the hospital's Emergency Department. "Now that we are members of UNAC/UHCP, we can directly impact patient care without fear or intimidation."

Owned by Dr. Prem Reddy, CVMC is one of 13 hospitals in his Prime Healthcare Services system. The Registered Nurses decision to join UNAC/UHCP follows a 2008 attempt, which resulted in a contested election and the Union filing multiple unfair labor practice charges against the hospital.

"The primary goal of the nurses at Chino Valley is to make sure they can give their patients thorough and consistent care without worrying about losing their jobs in the process," stated UNAC/UHCP President Kathy J. Sackman, RN. "Nurses are on the frontlines of patient care, and need to be empowered to speak up for themselves and for their patients. I commend these nurses for standing together a second time to gain a voice in the workplace."

Joining UNAC/UHCP will allow the approximately 125 Chino Valley nurses to communicate on a level playing field with hospital management about important issues that directly impact patient care, such as staffing levels, time at the bedside, and working conditions. The nurses will go to the bargaining table with CVMC management to determine the best way for the nurses to improve the hospital and the care it provides its patients.

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