18 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y | M A R C H 2 0 2 1
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housands of registered nurse and health care worker members of
National Nurses United (NNU) held hundreds of socially distanced
events in more than 19 states and the District of Columbia on Jan. 27
to demand that their hospital employers put patients first above
profit motives in how patient care is delivered. The hospital indus-
try's response to Covid has demonstrated to nurses and patients that they may
attempt to implement their long-desired goal of restructuring the industry to
prioritize profits — a direction that nurses and health care workers warn is bad
for patient and worker safety. The actions on Jan. 27 are a kickoff to a campaign
that puts the industry on notice that care providers will fight such moves.
In addition, the events launched a year of major contract negotiations that
include some of the most profitable and mammoth corporate hospital chains
in the United States, including HCA Healthcare, Sutter Health, and Dignity
Health, which is owned by CommonSpirit. Together, the contract negotiations
cover nearly 45,000 registered nurses and
respiratory therapists, aides, technicians, and
other health care workers across the country.
ACTION FIGURES
Despite Covid, thousands of RNs, techs, and aides across
the country protested on Jan. 27 to put patients first
