Nurses protest racism and understaffing at Antelope Valley Medical Center

Nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center Protest Staffing and Retaliation Issues

Nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) in Lancaster, California, are set to stage an informational picket on Tuesday, November 25. They are voicing concerns over management's failure to address a staffing shortage and alleged discriminatory actions against Latine nurses advocating for patient care. Represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), the nurses are highlighting critical issues affecting patient safety and working conditions.

AVMC's emergency department (ED), the second busiest in California, handles 130,000 patients annually across the expansive Antelope Valley Healthcare District, which spans over 1,500 square miles. Despite expanding the ED to 40 beds last year, the administration has not increased nursing staff to match the patient load, leading to compromised patient care. Nurses are reportedly left to monitor over 20 patients each, raising concerns about the potential risk to their professional licenses.

Details of the Picket:

Who: Registered nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center

What: Informational picket advocating for safe staffing and respect for nurses

When: Tuesday, November 25, 6:30-8 a.m.

Where: Antelope Valley Medical Center, 1600 W. Ave. J, Lancaster, California; in front of the hospital

Recently, three emergency department nurses — Emma Alva, RN, Viviana Perez, RN, and Jacquie Ferrer, RN — received termination notices following their vocal demands for safer staffing levels. The nurses, all Latine and senior in their roles, claim they are facing discrimination for their advocacy efforts. There have also been reports of derogatory comments made by the chief nursing officer regarding Perez’s accent during meetings and training sessions.

Emma Alva, RN, expressed safety concerns, stating, “One nurse and one technician caring for six patients in the emergency department is unsafe, as is patients waiting for hours to get care because there aren’t enough nurses.” Alva noted that California's nurse staffing law stipulates a ratio of one nurse to four patients in the emergency department, with adjustments based on patient condition severity. She criticized AVMC for failing to provide explanations for inadequate staffing and retaliating against nurses for raising these issues.

Further highlighting the challenges, Viviana Perez, RN, commented on management's approach, saying, “AVMC is reducing staff by attrition and forcing remaining staffing to do more with less, which is unsustainable and creates unsafe working conditions. Some open positions are not even being posted so no one can apply. This is making our staffing crisis even worse.”

Nurses in other departments, such as the intensive care unit and surgical services, echo similar concerns, facing demanding schedules with some working up to 24-hour shifts or five consecutive 12-hour days, which they argue endangers patient care.

Management has also not filled two educator positions for over a year, roles essential for ensuring nurse compliance with state and federal laws. Viviana Perez, RN, emphasized the need for change, stating, “Enough is enough. We are disappointed that the hospital continues to go backwards in the services we provide for our community. Our patients and our nurses deserve more resources and support, not less.”

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 more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.