Registered nurses picketed the VA in downtown DC late last month, urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to work with them to ensure quality care at the VA by moving forward with stalled negotiations. "The duty of registered nurses within the VA healthcare system is to provide high quality care and to advocate for the men and women who put their lives and health at risk defending our nation," said Irma Westmoreland, RN and Chair, NNU-VA. "We are the front-line caregivers whose work ensures that patients get the care they need, and in many cases we are veterans and patients ourselves.” The nurses spoke out on behalf of the 11,000 RNs affiliated with National Nurses United at 23 VA facilities in 12 states. Nurses voiced concerns on patient care issues, including chronic short staffing and the recruitment and retention of experienced nurses. Over the past 20 months, RNs have submitted 1500 reports documenting understaffing and other patient care issues to VA management.
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