Nurses from Saint Louis University and Des Peres hospitals took to the streets in Midtown Monday morning. About 200 nurses marched up and down Grand Avenue in front of SLU Hospital. Part of National Nurses United, the RNs are calling on Tenet Healthcare Corporation to renew and extent their contracts. Tenet Heathcare owns and operates SLU and Des Peres hospitals. SLU nurse Aaron Southworth tells KTRS that more nurses means better heath care.
"Making the patient/staffing ratio better will benefit all nurses, it will benefit patients, and it will benefit the hospital as a whole," said Southworth.
Among other concerns, the nurses want management to hire lift teams for patients. They say nurses have some of the highest rates of back injuries from moving patients. The nurses also expressed concerns when it comes supplies, staffing, and overall policy matters.
In a statement released to KTRS News, SLU says they will continue to negotiate with the nurses in good faith and they hope to reach an agreement that's beneficial to both sides.
