I've worked as an El Camino Hospital nurse for 15 years and this is the first time I've felt underappreciated and ashamed that our own hospital executives would try to cut costs by taking away from nurses' salaries and not give the nurses raises to keep up with the housing increases. My rent goes up significantly every year and it's ridiculous that a nurse at El Camino Hospital can't afford to live locally on her own. All the other hospitals around us have given their nurses raises and we have been trying to negotiate a raise to no avail except to have them attempt to take more of our benefits away. We just received our third Magnet Status meaning we have one of the highest levels of nursing care, a prestigious recognition for our hospital, and what do we get in return? Our executives decide to overspend and then spit in the nurses' faces and try to cut costs in nurses' salaries and benefits. Thanks a lot, El Camino Hospital. I loved working for you but it's so shameful if you decide to make cuts on your nurses. Maybe cut your bonuses and cut the extra consultants. Don't pick on the nurses!!!

I have been nursing at El Camino Hospital for 8 years now and for the most part have found it to be a good place to work. However, as the comment above states, it is disheartening that ECH wants to "take away" from the nurses in contract negotiations. There appears to be very little common ground now during contract negotiations, between our union and ECH, regarding nurse's salary increases, PTO, educational allowances and health insurance. However, be assured the workload continues to grow for nurses. Charge nurses DO take patients, state mandated nurse/patient ratios are not always followed due to census increase, breaks and lunches are cut short (or not taken) to care for patients or for charting, and believe me, charging for a missed break/lunch is frowned upon because it negatively impacts "the budget". "The budget" are the 2 words that impact every unit in the hospital in a way that can intimidate and discourage nurses from asking for and receiving what is in our current contract, (i.e. Additional staff on busy days to maintain ratios and keep patients safe, meal/rest breaks, educational days off to maintain licensing requirements, etc). I wonder how many executives don't receive their bonuses because of "the budget". I believe that ECH is a good hospital and as a ECH RN and community member, I do use its services without reservation. Keep El Camino Hospital a strong community hospital by respecting, supporting and compensating its nurses well!