FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Oct. 16

News from the Michigan Nurses Association
Contact: Andrew Baker; 517-488-1707
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UPDATE FROM MARQUETTE NURSES
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(Marquette, MI) Statement from Stephanie DePetro, OR Nurse at UPHS Marquette and Chief Grievance Officer of the UPHS Marquette RN Staff Council/MNA:
 
The Michigan Nurses Association has yet to receive any official notification regarding a state investigation of nurses’ complaints at UPHS Marquette, and we look forward to reviewing the full report and its methodology as it becomes available.  

UP Health System Marquette nurses reported unsafe conditions to Duke LifePoint management on over 200 Assignment Despite Objection Forms between January 1 and August 24, documenting at least 783 consequences for patient care. Incidents of unsafe patient care were reported, including:

• 111 cases of one or more IVs running dry or medicines being given late
• 12 reports of one or more patient falls (4 in one day in one unit)
• 259 reports of one or more nurses going without breaks, lunches or being mandated to work shifts that could be dangerous to patients (up to 16 hours)

Common sense suggests that a proper investigation prompted by the ADO reports submitted to the state should include attempts to interview the nurses who filed the complaints. From what we understand so far, none of the nurses filing the ADO reports were contacted by state investigators regarding those documented incidents.

Marquette nurses will continue to advocate for the highest quality of patient care, because hospital safety is not a simple pass/fail endeavor. We have documented hundreds of patient safety concerns, and at this time, we are not convinced that the state has adequately looked into those issues.

For background information, visit: www.supportUPnurses.org/press-releases

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