Nurses take patient-care complaints to U.S. public

BY FRANCESCA DONLAN: (02/08/00)

PALM SPRINGS: Nurses took to the streets Monday morning to share their concerns about patient safety at Desert Regional Medical Center.

The group carried a big, blue banner and walked down Palm Canyon Drive, the city*s main shopping venue, distributing leaflets to businesses and shoppers.

Stephanie Salter, a registered nurse in the open heart intensive care unit at Desert Regional, alleges that the hospital, managed by Tenet Healthcare Corporation for the Desert Healthcare District, disciplines nurses and denies merited wage increases to those who call in sick more than five times a year. "They*re still working sick nurses" Salter said.

In November, she and other nurses marched into the Desert Healthcare District board meeting and demanded an end of sick nurses treating sick patients. Salter said nothing has changed in three months. The nurses also raised concerns about what they called a 30 percent turnover at the hospital and low wages.

Susan Delrosano, a nurse in medical surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), said the issue of sick at work should be a priority. She understands the repercussions of being ill on the job. "Nurses should not be penalized for calling in sick. You*ll endanger your patients," she said.. Delrosario said she feels strongly about nurse and patient relationship.

Kristen Warnick, a nurse in trauma JCU, said not enough is being done. "I truly believe in what were doing," she said. "It*s our voice that*s going to help us -we*re the patient advocate."

Eva Saltonstall, Spokesperson for the hospital said. "Replacing sick nurses is costly. Each time a nurse calls in sick, we have to find another nurse to bring in on a day off."

Charles Idelson, director of communities for the California Association of Nursing, said he supports the nurses* efforts to increase the care of patients.

"Nurses being at work while their immune system is eroded and exposed to extremely ill patients � from both ends � it𠏋 extremely risky," Idelson said.