Registered nurses at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia hosted a community rally on Saturday to protest ongoing concerns about safe staffing and safe working conditions, organizers say.

Organized by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), which represents nearly 650 nurses at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, the community rally was meant to highlight what they say are persistent problems at the local hospital.

“Our proposals prioritize safe staffing and give nurses a real voice in policy changes that have a direct impact on patient care,” said Clarissa Vela, RN, who works in palliative care at Henry Mayo. “We’re also focused on recruiting new nurses while retaining experienced RNs who are essential to high-quality care. These proposals reflect our commitment to both our patients and our community.”

Many of the problems nurses identified pertain to RN staffing, patient safety, and working conditions that directly impact the quality of care nurses can provide at Santa Clarita’s only hospital, according to organizers.

“We value our nurses very much.  Our negotiations with them are ongoing and we look forward to reaching an agreement that is fair to both sides,” said Patrick Moody, spokesperson for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

A new contract has been under negotiation between nursing staff and hospital administration since December 2024.

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