USC Keck Nurses to Picket Over Staffing, Patient Safety Concerns

Nurses at USC Hospitals to Hold Picket Over Staffing and Patient Care Concerns

Nurses employed at USC Keck & Norris Hospitals in Los Angeles, CA, are set to stage an informational picket on July 24. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced the event, highlighting ongoing disputes with the hospital administration regarding staffing levels and patient care quality.

The nurses have been voicing their concerns about insufficient staffing for several months. Many report missing essential rest and meal breaks during shifts. In the year 2024, data from the hospital shows that nurses missed 4,023 rest breaks and 10,437 meal breaks. So far in 2025, they have missed 2,210 rest breaks and 4,631 meal breaks. The lack of adequate staffing to allow for legally required breaks can result in nurse fatigue and an increased risk of medical errors.

Details of the Picket

Who: Registered nurses at USC Keck & Norris Hospitals

What: Informational picket for patient safety and a fair contract

When: Thursday, July 24, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Where: USC Keck Hospital, 1500 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, in front of the main entrance to the hospital on San Pablo

Efforts to resolve these issues through contract negotiations since May 2025 have reportedly seen little progress. Nurses are calling on hospital management to prioritize nursing staff and agree to contract terms that ensure:

• Safe Staffing & Appropriate Break Relief
• Recruitment and Retention of Skilled Nurses
• Patient Safety

Allysha Shin, an RN in the neuro intensive care unit, emphasized the critical nature of the work, stating, “The types of patients that we deal with in the ICU are extremely complex and require focus and attention from their nurse.” She added, “When I’m unable to take a break because of short staffing, and I become dehydrated and fatigued, I’m unable to provide the best possible care to my patients. If the hospital cares about patient safety, they will make meaningful movement on our proposals for safe staffing ratios.”

Gina Vergara, RN in the 4S ICU unit, echoed these sentiments, asserting, “Patient safety is not negotiable. We are fighting to ensure our patients receive the quality of care they deserve.”

The California Nurses Association represents over 1,800 nurses at USC Keck and Norris facilities.

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.