Chicago VA and Cook County RNs Rally Against Major Job Cuts Plan

Chicago Nurses Rally Against VA Staffing Reductions

Registered nurses from Chicago's Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, VA Hines Health Care, and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center are set to join Cook County nurses for a rally on March 28. The event, organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), aims to protest significant staffing cuts proposed by the VA administration. According to a recent confirmation by the VA secretary, plans are underway to reduce the workforce by 72,000 to 80,000 employees.

Carolina Stewart, a registered nurse at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, expressed concerns about the current staffing shortages. "We know that the VA is the best place for our veterans to receive care, and we need to ensure that we have the resources and staff available to provide high-quality, therapeutic care to every veteran who needs and wants it," she said. Stewart noted that the lack of sufficient nurses and support staff is already affecting the quality of care provided to veterans, with increased workloads for existing staff.

Rally Details:

• Who: VA RNs and staff, Cook County registered nurses, and labor allies
• What: Rally to demand an end to VA staffing cuts
• When: Friday, March 28, noon to 1 p.m.
• Where: Jesse Brown VA, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, Ill. Rally at the corner of Damen Ave. and Polk St.

The staffing cuts aim to revert to 2019 levels, as stated by VA Secretary Doug Collins. However, this does not align with the growing demand for services, highlighted by a report showing 400,000 new veteran enrollments in the past year.

An August 2024 Inspector General’s report indicated that 82% of VA facilities suffer from severe nursing shortages. Despite these challenges, VA nurses strive to maintain high standards of care, with studies confirming superior outcomes for veterans in VA facilities. A 2023 study found lower 30-day mortality rates for heart failure and stroke patients treated in VA hospitals compared to non-VA facilities.

The VA system faces pressure from rising private-sector healthcare spending, which reached $30 billion in fiscal year 2023, according to a "Red Team" Executive Roundtable analysis. This shift threatens the VA's ability to provide direct care to veterans.

Heather Fallon, an intensive care unit nurse at Capt. James Lovell Federal Health Care Center, emphasized the impact on patient care. "We know veterans want to be seen in the VA because they know the care is specialized towards their needs," she stated. Fallon described increasing emergency room wait times and staffing shortages that prolong patient stays.

Fallon also voiced concerns about the administration's impact on nurse recruitment and retention. "We must respect our veterans by respecting those who care for them," she urged, highlighting the importance of maintaining quality care for veterans.

NNOC/NNU represents over 2,000 registered nurses in Chicago-area VA facilities.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is part of National Nurses United, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S., with over 225,000 members nationwide.

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