I'm writing with regard to Rep. Suozzi's support of the proposed legislation to cap travel nurse pay. I am a registered nurse who lives and works in Rep. Suozzi's district in a large hospital, and am highly concerned with this piece of legislation completely and deliberately overlooking the real issue at hand, and that's what's actually driving staff nurses to leave their positions for travel pay. We put our lives at risk caring for patients who abuse us, our mental health is suffering, suicide rates among nurses is higher than it's ever been, and hospitals don't support us. We are severely underpaid and the risks we face in our jobs isn't justifiable given how much we're paid and how little incentive there is to remain at the bedside. Nurses are leaving in droves for higher paying travel positions, and if that incentive is taken away, they'll leave bedside all together.
Hospital executives continue to make millions without ever facing the risks that we do, but instead of addressing the greed of hospital executives and addressing the abusive, unsafe, and unsupported working conditions we endure; you've shown your support into strong arming us into staying in these abusive business relationships.
Less than two years ago we were touted as "heroes", but we see through your words and demand support and being treated as the valuable asset that we are. I implore you to rescind your support from this deplorable, short sighted piece of legislation that only serves to diminish our importance and the very real issues that we nurses are faced with.
Sign Petition
