This petition was created on behalf of the AFT Union 47 Nurses of Danbury Hospital. 

Danbury Nurses are facing an unprecedented staffing crisis. While we all understand there is a national shortage of nurses, our cries for support from administration have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears. We are repeatedly told that “it is what it is” and “everyone else is facing this too” which are no longer acceptable answers. 

High patient to nurse ratios lead to less time to assess and care for each individual patient as they deserve. Less time equals less care. Less care equals higher chances of patient harm. 

If you know a nurse, you’ve seen the stress and trauma we have faced over the last 2 years. From pandemic nursing we learned how terrifying it can get, and with covid numbers increasing, we need to establish safe and effective staffing plans. 

Our administration has the power to re-purpose some non-clinical staff such as managers and educators in times of crisis staffing, which they will not discuss. The question of retention bonuses or hazard pay have been ruthlessly declined. 

While there are incentives available for nursing staff who work additional shifts, the nurses are suffering immense burn-out and moral injury. For many nurses the thought of working above and beyond their hours is unbearable. 

We are simply asking for you to sign below in solidarity with the Danbury Nurses. We want to show administration we have the public’s support in demanding safe patient ratios. 

We care. We protect. We serve. We are nurses. 

#SafeStaffing #ProtectOurPatients