Westchester Medical Center nurses allege staff shortage could impact patient care

One of Westchester's largest hospitals is allegedly short-staffed when it comes to nurses.
Nurses at Westchester Medical Center came together Wednesday to raise concerns that the shortage could impact patient care.
“They continue to hire middle management, upper management. But the patients need bedside staff. We need more people at the bedsides and less people in management,” says nurse David Long.

Nurses say inadequate staffing ratios sometimes means patients are not getting the one-on-one care they need.

There is currently a Safe Staffing ratio bill that is making its way through the legislative process in Albany, and the nurses are aggressively pushing for its passage.

State Sen. Shelley Mayer is a co-sponsor of the measure.

"That bill had passed in the Assembly a number of times, including when I was there. This year, I think they're continuing to be conversations to try to find a compromise. We're going to keep pushing ahead and see if we could find a solution that leads to greater staffing ratios,” says Mayer.           

News 12 reached out to Westchester Medical Center for comment, but has not heard back.