Nationwide Survey Finds Serious Shortages in Several Health Occupations; April 11 News Conference

4/8/2002

From: Janet Bass, 202-879-4554, for AFT Healthcare, e-mail: jbass@aft.org

News Advisory:

It's not just registered nurses anymore. A nationwide survey of radiology technologists, respiratory therapists and certified nursing assistants -- to be released Thursday -- reveals crippling understaffing and grave concerns about patient care. The survey respondents also list suggestions for attracting people to the professions.

AFT Healthcare, the 60,000-member healthcare division of the American Federation of Teachers, will release the survey results at an April 11 news conference - the day before the opening of AFT Healthcare's annual Professional Issues Conference.

"Healthcare in America is getting to be like assembly-line work with an out-of-control conveyor belt. There aren't enough nurses and other healthcare workers to keep up with the number of patients they're responsible for. Limits must be set," said AFT Healthcare Chair Candice Owley. The results for the three health occupations are strikingly similar to results of a survey of nurses that AFT Healthcare conducted in 2001.

AFT Healthcare is launching a "Set Limits, Save Lives" campaign. It will announce nurse-to-patient ratio recommendations for various units in a hospital. Recommendations for "safe minimums" for other health occupations will come in a few months.

WHAT: News Conference

WHEN: Thursday, April 11 11 a.m.

WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel, Congressional Room Washington, D.C.

WHO: -- Candice Owley, Chair, AFT Healthcare -- Guy Molyneux, Peter Hart Research Associates -- Radiology tech, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Conn. -- Respiratory therapist, Kaiser Sunnyside, Portland, Ore. -- Certified nursing assistant, The Harborage House, Pallisades, N.J. -- Registered nurse, Research Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo.