Union: ValleyCare has plan to eliminate LPNs at TMH

WARREN — The union representing nurses at ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital claims ValleyCare has plans to eliminate 47 positions.

The Service Employees International Union 1199 claims ValleyCare Health Systems of Ohio is planning to get rid of all 47 licensed practical nurses who work at the hospital. The union released a statement calling the move “a drastic change to the current delivery of care provided to patients of the hospital.”

“Our community deserves qualified, experienced bedside caregivers with the right education and skills,” said Ruth Herner-Farley, a licensed practical nurse of 32 years at TMH and member of SEIU 1199. “LPNs are highly qualified, cost-effective members of the nursing team, and eliminating this vital piece of our care team would have a major impact on the quality of care our patients receive at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.”

ValleyCare has released a statement about the issue. It says, “On May 7, 2014, the hospital initiated discussions with the Service Employees International Union District 1199 regarding our plans to transition to a nurse staffing model that uses registered nurses and nursing assistants. This model uses RNs to provide most of the patient care.”

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