RNs and Staff Plan Vigil Amid Concerns Over St. Joseph's Leadership

Healthcare Workers Express Concerns Over Hospital Management

Registered nurses at St. Joseph Health in Brazos Valley, Texas, are set to organize a vigil focused on patient safety and staffing concerns on Wednesday, June 24. This follows a petition signed by numerous nurses and hospital employees expressing a lack of confidence in the hospital's leadership due to ongoing issues impacting patient care quality. The nurses are represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).

According to Tara Cassell, RN in the labor and delivery unit at St. Joseph Health College Station Hospital, “St. Joseph Health nurses have been sounding the alarm about cuts to patient care resources and unsafe conditions across our health system.” She highlighted that recent service reductions and the dismissal of a respected physician have heightened concerns regarding management's dedication to maintaining high standards of care.

Details of the Upcoming Vigil

Who: St. Joseph Health registered nurses, staff, and community allies

What: Vigil for patient safety and safe staffing

When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6–6:30 p.m.

Where: St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital, 2801 Franciscan Dr., Bryan, Texas (Hospital entrance on 29th St.)

The vigil aims to honor patients and bring attention to the nurses' concerns about conditions affecting patient care. The call to action is directed at hospital leadership to address these pressing issues.

Jessica Crouch, RN and nurse navigator at St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan, stated, “We are committed to negotiating a strong first union contract that improves nurses’ working conditions and establishes the safe patient care standards our community deserves.” However, she emphasized the urgency for leadership to address these concerns immediately, without waiting for contract negotiations to conclude.

Union Negotiations and Representation

The nurses at St. Joseph Health have been in negotiations for their first union contract since April 2026, after voting to join NNOC/NNU in December 2025. NNOC/NNU represents over 700 registered nurses throughout the St. Joseph Health system, including facilities in Bryan and College Station, and three critical access hospitals in Caldwell, Navasota, and Madisonville. St. Joseph Health is part of CommonSpirit Health, with NNOC/NNU representing over 17,000 nurses across 33 facilities nationwide.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, boasting more than 225,000 members nationwide. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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