Martinsburg VA Nurses Demand Flexible Scheduling Amid Overwork Concerns
‘Help Us Care For Ourselves’: Nurses Picket For Scheduling Flexibility At Martinsburg VA
West Virginia Public Broadcasting | Friday, October 11, 2024
By Jack Walker
Nurses at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center held a picket to advocate for scheduling flexibility, highlighting concerns over unsustainable 12-hour shifts and an additional mandated eight-hour shift. Demonstrators, part of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, seek to implement a '72/80' scheduling model, which would allow them to maintain full pay by working 72 hours over two weeks instead of the current 80. The proposal is backed by evidence showing improvements in retention and job satisfaction. Despite significant support among staff, hospital administrators have not committed to revisions. The story, covered by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, illustrates the ongoing struggle for better working conditions among veterans' care nurses.
