Nurses rally outside Research Medical Center

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A group of nurses caused a scene outside Research Medical Center Tuesday night. Sick with frustration over idle contract talks, they did something to get attention.

Dozens of nurses and union officials gathered outside the hospital to chant.

“No more than two in the ICU,” the crowd yelled.

But they raised more than voices. Their union pushed stalled contract negotiations public. However, they said the reason is bigger than money.

“There are emotional needs that go along with nursing and I don’t want to see those emotional needs pushed aside ever,” said Catherine Stephenson, a nurse.

Stephenson started at the hospital 43 years ago. She worked her way up from candy striper to delivery nurse where she cares for new moms and babies.

“It is wonderful to be able to go in and be a part of a new beginning in someone's life,” Stephenson said.

Still, she and other nurses see problems.

“We could use more nurses because it’s been proven in studies that if you have the right proportion of nurses you can take better care of patients,” said Bessie Gray, another hospital nurse.

It is such a concern that Research Medical Center nurses formed a union last September. They hoped to persuade hospital administrators to mandate lower nurse-patient ratios. However, nine months into negotiations, nurses are rallying for public support.

“We need better nursing ratios,” Stephenson said. “Labor and delivery can sometimes be like an ICU and often times those patients require one-on-one care.”

Hospital administrators declined to interview requests, but did release a statement.

“We have been bargaining in good faith with the union for several months and have made steady progress toward our goal of reaching an agreement,” said Denise Charpentier, spokesperson for Research Medical Center. “We are disappointed that the union decided to use this bargaining tactic, and we disagree with the claims the union is making in their news release.”

“This is America and they are entitled to their opinion, but mine is different,” Stephenson said.

The union is convinced going public is the only way to improve patient safety. Neither side gave a timetable for a labor resolution.