In the current NYC nursing strike, numerous nurses use social media to voice their concerns, share information about the strike with the public. They also coordinate with other nurses and healthcare workers, and gather support for their cause. Some common issues nurses raise on social media during the strike include low pay, inadequate staffing levels, and poor working conditions.
Nursing strikes can have a significant impact on the healthcare system and the patients who rely on it. The recent nursing strike in New York City involving nurses from Mount Sinai Main and Montefiore Bronx highlights the importance of finding a resolution that addresses the concerns of both the nurses and the hospitals.
What The Internet Is Saying
The current nurses’ strike in New York City has brought attention to the ongoing issue of chronic understaffing in hospitals. The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and two hospitals, Mount Sinai Main and Montefiore Bronx, are currently in contract negotiations with no agreement as of yet. The strike, which began on Monday, has brought to light the struggles that nurses face daily due to understaffing.
@bell_ribeiroaddy on her Instagram account shared her sentiment stating, “Total solidarity with nurses on strike today to stand up for their profession, pay, and patient safety. The Tories are ignoring these serious issues and refusing to negotiate. They’re there for us when we need them most. Let’s make sure we’re there for them.”
One of the applaudable comments from @bell_ribeiroaddy’s post on her Instagram is from @smithywardy showing their great support for what the nursing strike is fighting for.
“This for me isn’t about money. This for me is not about not getting a break.” They continue, “ This for me isn’t about finishing late every shift. This for me is about not being able to be the nurse that I chose this career to be.
The comment continues with, “We are pushed way beyond our limits that make nursing an unsafe profession. This is for the patients that we so desperately want to provide the best possible care for and despite all our current challenges we do our upmost to. Nurses finish in tears not because we think we deserve more money but because we feel like we have let patients down. That is a Nurse- thinking about others. That is exactly what this is, about our patients. Stand with us, not against us” -@smithywardy
The Primary Cause Of The Strike
The grounds for the strike is due to several factors, including chronic understaffing and inadequate staffing ratios. This leads to nurses being overworked and overburdened, leading to burnout and high turnover rates. In addition, nurses are often forced to work overtime and skip breaks to meet the demands of their patients.
Nurses on social media have shared their feelings of solidarity and have shown their unshakable support.
On his Instagram account, @nurse.blake shared his experience in connection with the current issue. “my flight is delayed BECAUSE we are waiting on a crew member. Why? cause it’s not safe to fly without appropriate staffing. why don’t hospitals have safety standards like this?” he posted.
Moreover, @thepoetdoc also shared her voice regarding the issue stating, “Healthcare workers are so over the argument that “we signed up for this”. We signed up for helping others in the name of science and altruism. No one told us the healthcare system would take advantage of our empathy and prioritize profit over our patients.”
Michael Abbott Jr. on his Twitter account @mykabit showed his dismay at the current situation through his post “Two years ago we were all hanging out our windows, banging on pots and applauding our NYC nurses, thanking them for their service to humanity. Today we refuse to compensate them for their efforts. How soon we forget.”
Two years ago we were all hanging out our windows, banging on pots and pans and applauding our NYC nurses, thanking them for their service to humanity. Today we refuse to compensate them for their efforts. How soon we forget. #NursesStrike #NursesPay #nycnursestrike
— Michael Abbott Jr. (@mykabit) January 9, 2023
More Social Media Chatter On NYC Nursing Strike
Another post from a nursing strike supporter @emmadeady on her Instagram account posted “Over 7,000 nurses on strike today in NYC after being pushed to a breaking point. NYSNA walked out of negotiations early this morning when their demands for better wages & working conditions went unmet – all while hospital executives are paid millions.”
While Tiffany Caban, a Council Member for NYC Council District 22 in Queens showed her great disappointment through her Instagram account @tiffany_caban goes,
“Gross. Pitting patients against nurses. NYers do deserve better. Our NY nurses deserve safe staffing, better pay, and dignity in the workplace. And NY patients deserve the better care they will get when our nurses have what they need! Give them a fair contract!”
Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare system and without them, the system would collapse. The strike also brings attention to the fact that the issues nurses are facing are not limited to just New York City but are a problem that affects nurses across the country.
The Effects Of The Strike To The Mass
The effects of the strike on the public have been minimal so far, with hospitals managing the increased workload. However, it is important to note that the strike highlights the crucial role that nurses play in the healthcare system.
The outcomes of the strike can be far-reaching, with patients experiencing delays in care and hospitals facing potential overcrowding and strain on resources. Additionally, the strike can also lead to a negative public perception of the hospitals and the nursing profession, further complicating the issue.
Coming To A Resolution
To find a resolution, both sides need to come to the negotiating table with a willingness to compromise. Hospitals can work to address the concerns about staffing. They can do this by committing to increasing the number of nurses and ensuring safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
At the same time, it’s quite difficult to say what nurses need to comprise at the negotiating table. Having better ratios save lives, and risking one’s nursing license is costly.
The hospitals must find a way to balance the financial constraints of the facility and nurses’ fair compensation and benefits.
Final Thought
In general, social media can be a powerful tool for organizing and raising awareness about a cause.
Additionally, social media can also serve as a megaphone for the voices of striking nurses and the union. It provides a medium where nurses can be transparent to the public about the working conditions. Patients deserve appropriate and fair care. Nursing are showcasing that it’s nearly impossible to do so effectively. Especially when they’re chronically short on staff.
In the end, finding a solution to this nurse strike requires respect, and understanding for nurse’s profession. Ultimately, reaching a compromise must prioritize what is in the best interest of the patients. By working together, hopefully hospitals and nurses can come to an agreement very soon.