By Karol Perez, Staff Writer | February 8, 2023
Photo courtesy of Associated Press Images
This new year started off with some of our most prized workers, nurses, going on strike in New York City, Manhattan, and the Bronx. On January 9, 2023, more than 7,000 Nurses walked off their jobs at hospitals.
According to CNN, nurses say that they have been working long hours in unsafe conditions, are short staffed, and don’t have enough pay. Our nation’s nurses explained that working so many hours has caused stress.
The primary issue is that these health care workers are strapped with many patients to care for, and this is reportedly creating an increasing crisis in staffing and patient care. Many are not focusing on the pay as the main issue but the severe staff shortages.
Some would insist that nurses and assistants do most of the work in a doctor’s office-even more than the actual doctor. They have loads of work and no help causing exceptional stress. The pay is considered average, but they don’t get paid accurately for the amount of work that they do, rather, they get paid based on a fixed salary; yet, if they appear to work less, then they could get in trouble.
Good for them for protesting and going on strike. One needs a good work environment, otherwise being a nurse could really suck. If nobody listens to their concerns, and they feel overwhelmed or stressed, then good for them for walking off the job. Sometimes doing something like that, protesting, is the only way to make a change.
Adriana Cienfuegos, a former nurse, said that she agrees with the nurses going on strike.
"They have every right to say they have had enough of working long hours, being underpaid, and working in unsafe conditions," said Cienfuegos.
Many in health care are looking to the public for support.
"I believe the general public should be outraged with the hospitals because they are putting the patients in danger," said Cienfuegos. "The nurses are the ones doing the bedside care, and for them to be overworked, [it] can be dangerous since they are sleep deprived. The hospitals should hire more travel nurses to fill in...hospitals can also hire more CNA’s (Certified Nurse Assistant) to help and assist nurses with workload."
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