Nurses Rally Against Watsonville NICU Closure, Demand Reopening

Nurses Protest Closure of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Watsonville

Nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) in Watsonville, California, are set to hold a protest on Monday, Aug. 31, against the planned shutdown of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), are urging hospital administration, along with the Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board of Supervisors, to reconsider the decision.

Roseann Farris, a registered nurse in the critical care unit, voiced the concerns of the nursing staff, stating, “Vulnerable newborns and their families rely on our public safety net hospital. Nurses are calling on the administration and Hospital Board to reverse this decision, invest in staffing, and immediately reopen our NICU. Our community deserves a fully functioning hospital with access to life-saving care. Nurses took an oath to advocate for our patients, and we will not be silent when their health is put at risk.”

Event Details

Who: Watsonville Community Hospital nurses

What: Reopen our NICU Speak Out and press conference

When: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, 12 p.m.

Where: Watsonville Community Hospital, 75 Nielson St., Watsonville, California

The closure of the NICU has sparked significant concern among the hospital staff and the local community, as it endangers the lives of newborns. In July, Watsonville nurses engaged in discussions with the hospital's management, including Interim CEO Tim Moran, to address the issue. Despite their efforts, including voicing their concerns at a Board of Directors' meeting on July 29, the closure was announced, prioritizing financial considerations over patient care.

This decision marks another challenge for patient care at WCH. The administration has previously merged several units and suggested closing additional services. The NICU closure is viewed as the most critical of these cuts, leaving residents with limited options.

Currently, Dignity Health’s Dominican Hospital is the only other full-service acute care hospital in Santa Cruz County, meaning WCH patients must travel to Monterrey for NICU services, a situation that could compromise infant care due to increased transportation time.

The local agricultural community, which includes many immigrant and low-income families, will be particularly affected by the NICU's closure, along with previous service reductions like the merging of medical surgical and telemetry units and the shutdown of critical care unit services. CNA union nurses are advocating for equal access to maternal care services.

CNA/NNU represents around 300 registered nurses at Watsonville Community Hospital.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, with more than 100,000 members in over 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.

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