Nurses union members have delivered petitions with hundreds of signatures to management at Ascension Via Christi hospitals in Wichita in protest of a new policy.
National Nurses United members said the new policy cuts the availability of patient care technicians (PCTs) and it will make the existing staffing crisis worse, creating a negative impact on patient care.
The union said PCTs are involved in critical responsibilities like taking vitals and bathing or washing patients, and without that support, nurses will be taking over those duties. Nurses said that will give them less time with each patient and lower the quality of care.
The petitions were delivered to management at Via Christi St. Francis and Via Christi St. Joseph hospitals in Wichita. There has been no comment from Ascension Via Christi on the petition. Nurses have been involved in contract negotiations with the hospitals.
