From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — UPDATE: Many of the nurses clocked in after a meeting with hospital administrators.
EARLIER: Nurses at UAB are refusing to clock in for the night shift in the emergency department, according to officials. The workers are citing low pay and stress due to the high volume of Covid patients.
“That’s one of the things that we really have been focusing on,” association president Lindsey Harris said.
Harris also said about 80 to 90 percent of patients being hospitalized are unvaccinated, adding to the nurses patient load and increasing stress on the staff.
“Hospitals need help,” Harris said. “Hospitals need nurses.”
Harris said she was not surprised that nurses decided not to clock in tonight.
UAB Hospital released the following statement:
“The COVID pandemic and recent delta variant surge have stressed the healthcare system and put tremendous pressure on our staff – including nurses on the front lines. We are aware of our nurses’ concerns and are working to address them while adjusting operations to provide the highest quality care to our patients who need us. We encourage a dialogue with our employees – particularly in difficult times like these. Our community can help us support our nurses and all our employees by wearing masks and getting vaccinated to curb the pandemic that continues to put pressure on those who have been working to serve our state.”
There is no word on when the nurses and other hospital staff plan to return to work. UAB did not offer specifics as to how the jobs of the missing workers will be covered.