Ohio nurses demand staffing and safety reforms

A recent survey conducted by the Ohio Nurses Association found that the state's healthcare system is in crisis. Based on a comprehensive survey of nurses across the state, this report brings to light the struggles within the nursing profession and their impact on patient safety. It underscores the union’s commitment to advocate for solutions that protect nurses and patients.

One of the most troubling revelations from the ONA survey is the issue of chronic understaffing in healthcare facilities across Ohio. Nurses reported that understaffing is an ongoing issue that puts patients and healthcare professionals at risk.

Understaffing has pushed the healthcare system into what ONA describes as a "CODE RED" situation, where patient safety can be compromised. For nurses, the physical and emotional burden of chronic understaffing is severe. Long shifts, minimal breaks and overwhelming patient loads are pushing many to their limits. The report shows that 63 percent of direct care nurses are considering leaving the profession altogether due to their patient caseload.

The nurses are calling for legislative reforms to address the problem. A key demand is for minimum staffing standards that ensure safer patient care and prevent hospitals from operating understaffed. Without such standards, the healthcare system will continue to unravel, with more nurses leaving and the quality of patient care plummeting.

The report also highlights another alarming issue: workplace violence. Nurses are increasingly facing violent situations while on the job. The ONA's findings show that 65 percent of direct care nurses experienced workplace violence in the past year, yet only a small percentage reported it, fearing that their concerns would be ignored. Nurses are calling for stronger legal protections, including increased criminal penalties for individuals who cause harm to healthcare workers.

ONA's report isn't just a warning—it’s an urgent call for immediate action. The ONA’s "CODE RED" declaration emphasizes that the healthcare system will suffer irreparable damage without intervention. In the report, the union provides clear, actionable demands to policymakers and healthcare executives, urging them to address understaffing and workplace violence. The union is also asking for legislation that holds healthcare employers accountable for providing safe environments for patients and staff.

“The data in this report speaks for itself; understaffing and workplace violence in our healthcare systems is a patient care crisis that must be addressed now,” says Rick Lucas, president and executive director of ONA. “Ohio cannot sustain the current trend of losing nurses due to working conditions. Having legally enforceable staffing standards in all Ohio hospitals and holding healthcare executives accountable for unsafe workplaces is crucial to the future of healthcare to improve patient care and ensure a sustainable, supportive environment for our nurses and health professionals.”

[Adrienne Coles/ONA press release]