(Des Moines, IA) -- Nurses from four Unity Point Hospitals in the Des Moines metro will vote next week on whether to unionize. They've been in discussions with joining the Teamster's Union since last fall.
"We've asked, we've begged for safe environments...nurses are continually being assaulted while we're at work. We are asked to care for more and more patients. The patients are getting sicker and sicker and it's just not something we can sustain, " said Sammi Ladd, Iowa Methodist Medical Center Nurse.
Collin Russell, a nurse at Iowa Medical Center tells WHO Radio many nurses have had to double their patient load and it has an effect on patience care.
"Divide sixty minutes by twelve, that's five minutes per patient. It's unfortunate, I've seen a lot of nurses leave. I think there is an institutional experience that is lost, " said Russell.
Nurses began efforts back in November 2024, and since then roughly 1800 nurses have joined. The vote to unionize will take place December 7th through the 9th on all four hospital campuses.
Unity Point is opposed to the unionization, saying it believes negotiating with the nurses directly is more effective.