Thursday 7/24: USC Keck & Norris nurses to hold informational picket for safe staffing

Nurses at USC Keck & Norris Hospitals in Los Angeles, California will hold an informational picket on July 24 to protest the administration's refusal to address RNs' deep concerns about safe staffing and patient care issues, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

Nurses at USC Keck and Norris Hospitals have been sounding the alarm on unsafe staffing conditions for the past several months. Many nurses often miss their rest or meal breaks during their shift. According to information provided by the hospital, in 2024, RNs missed 4,023 rest breaks, and 10,437 meal breaks. So far in 2025, RNs have missed 2,210 rest breaks, and 4,631 meal breaks. Failure to provide safe staffing coverage so that RNs can take their legally required breaks can lead to exhaustion among nurses and higher potential for medical errors.

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

Since May 2025, USC Keck and Norris nurses have been trying to address these key issues through their negotiations for a new contract with little to no movement. The RNs urge management to invest in nursing staff and agree to a contract that provides:

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

"The types of patients that we deal with in the ICU are extremely complex and require focus and attention from their nurse," said Allysha Shin, an RN in the neuro intensive care unit at USC Keck. "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."

"Patient safety is not negotiable," said nurse Gina Vergara, RN in the 4S ICU unit at USC Keck. "We are fighting to ensure our patients receive the quality of care they deserve."

California Nurses Association represents more than 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.