Longmont United Hospital nurses protest what they say are unsafe conditions

Dec. 3—Across the street from Longmont United Hospital on Thursday, roughly 50 community members and nurses gathered to shed light on what they described as an urgent staffing shortage that has led to unsafe conditions at the hospital.

As traffic passed along Mountain View Avenue and Frontier Drive, where they gathered, nurses and residents waved signs that read: "Patients first."

Kris Kloster, a Longmont United Hospital nurse of nearly 21 years who provides care in the recovery room to help patients following surgery, said she loves the hospital. She told the crowd gathered Thursday that conditions changed when Centura Health acquired the hospital about five years ago.

"We've faced layoffs, staff reductions. We've seen our nurse to patient ratios move in an unsafe direction," said Kloster, who is among the nurses at LUH speaking in favor of efforts to unionize with National Nurses United. LUH nurses said Thursday that concerns over staffing shortages and safety are what have led to this attempt.

"Longmont United Hospital remains focused on the whole health and well being of our patients, visitors, associates, physicians and volunteers," Centura Health Interim CEO Kristi Olson said in a statement on Wednesday. "We have undertaken numerous measures to ensure minimal disruption to our patients and visitors, as our top priority is always to deliver compassionate, high-quality care."

An election for union representation took place July 7 in Longmont. The vote is so far 93 in favor and 88 against. A National Nurses United news release said that there are seven remaining challenged ballots and that the hospital has for months "been delaying the opening of these ballots to put off having to negotiate with nurses."

Olson addressed the election in the statement. She said that the National Labor Relations Board, which held the mail ballot election, hasn't determined the election outcome. Olson said "we have been working with the agency to resolve the matter."

"We believe this effort by (National Nurses United) is an attempt to draw attention to the union and move its organizing efforts into the public domain," Olson's statement read. "The (National Labor Relations Board) process is very important, and we are committed to making sure that all voices were heard in the democratic election that was held by the NLRB."

The National Labor Relations Board is now awaiting direction from a labor relations regional director, following an Aug. 31 hearing on whether to open the challenged ballots, according to a labor relations spokesperson. They said they couldn't disclose why the ballots were being challenged and said there was no known time frame for results.

When Kloster addressed the crowd Thursday, she said registered nurses are caring for up to four patients at a time in the Intensive Care Unit — a number Kloster said is double the usual and safe amount.

"We were told we had a voice and Centura wanted to listen," Kloster said. "I know I personally submitted every survey and attended town hall meetings, asking for changes that would allow us to provide the best and safest care possible."

But that input, she said, has been neglected.

"Because Centura failed to value the input of hospital employees, we're working on units that are short staffed, which compromises safety," Kloster said. "During this pandemic, it has meant being the caregiver and only human connection for so many patients."

Kloster said that nearly one-third of nurses, or roughly 80 people, have left the hospital since the union election in July. The hospital, she said, is in desperate need of registered nurses. While job openings have been posted, she said that to recruit and retain nurses, the hospital needs to offer competitive and equitable pay.

"In a continuation of their union busting, Centura gave system-wide raises and retention bonus for all hospital staff, but made it clear to all Centura associates that nurses at Longmont United were excluded," Kloster said.

The crowd reacted to Kloster's statement with boos.

Fellow registered nurse Stephanie Chrisley, who has been with Longmont United Hospital for just over five years and works in the intensive care unit, also spoke. She said she loves her job and the hospital but that conditions are not sustainable for staff. Some shifts, she said, her coworkers are so overwhelmed that they break down in tears from the stress and frustration.

Chrisley said nurses tried to sound the alarm on challenges they faced, before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, she said, the pandemic has only added to the "crisis that was already developing."

"Some of those RNs who left were new grad nurses, who after a year or even less left the hospital questioning if nursing was even right for them," Chrisley said. "They were put in unsafe and highly stressful situations day in and day out, often missing breaks and meals."

Like Kloster, she described short staffing issues, and, how for the past few weeks nurses have had up to four patients at a time to care for.

"We're talking four ventilated, sedated, critically-ill patients," Kloster said. "In order to ensure that our patients continue to get the care they need and we know they deserve, the ICU staff frequently do not take their meal breaks and even struggle to get off the floor for bathroom and 10-minute breather breaks."

The Times-Call reached out to Centura Health to verify the number of staff who have left and the number of patients being cared for by nurses at a time. While Olson's statement didn't directly address this, the statement said that "Longmont United Hospital has a 62-year legacy of serving our vibrant community and our entire care team remains committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care."

Longmont Mayor Joan Peck was among those who attended the speak out Thursday to support Longmont United Hospital nurses' efforts to unionize.

"I feel that every time I hear about a group of employees that want to unionize, it's always because the organization, in this case, the hospital, refuses to listen to them," Peck said.

She called it outrageous that pay was withheld from nurses, calling on Longmont United Hospital to take care of the nurses, who provide care for the community.

Teddy Adams, a representative from U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse's office, read a statement on behalf of the congressman.

"We can't afford to have our hospitals so understaffed in the midst of a global pandemic," Adams read. "And, I'm proud to support the nurses in their efforts to unionize."

As she wrapped up her speech, Chrisley said her "heart was bursting," at the community support she saw Thursday.

"Please continue to stand with us as we fight for safety and improved conditions for all, here at Longmont United Hospital," Chrisley said.