SARASOTA – Nurses across Florida gathered outside 15 hospitals this past week protesting the lack of Personal Protective Equipment.
The protests spanned over two days, with nurses on the Suncoast taking part. Nurses claim HCA Healthcare Hospitals are not being given the proper tools to treat patients battling coronavirus.
President of the National Nurses United Deborah Burger says nurses are being threatened to lose their jobs if they demand the proper care be taken for medical staff.
“Nurses are saying is we are willing to care for COVID-19 patient. But we know that we need the personal protective equipment on hand and readily available,” said Burger.
Burger says in numbers paralleling national rates, 83% of Florida Registered Nurses report being compelled to re-use single-use disposable respirators or masks with a COVID-19 patient due to supplies not being readily available.