Aspirus to eliminate 7 certified nursing assistant roles
Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health plans to reduce staff by seven certified nursing assistant roles in areas where the system has implemented care delivery changes.
“To be clear, this staffing transition focuses on patient care,” a spokesperson for Aspirus said in a Sept. 3 statement shared with Becker’s. “It has nothing to do with our relationship with a union or upcoming negotiations. We value the contributions of all team members, and we have enjoyed positive relationships with our union partners.”
While the spokesperson did not confirm where the reductions would occur, a Sept. 3 Michigan Nurses Association news release shared with Becker’s said that the impacted CNAs work at Aspirus Iron River (Mich.) Hospital, a 25-bed critical access facility, according to its website.
The union release said that the nurses, who make up an MNA local, were informed the week of Aug. 25 that “virtually all CNA positions in the hospital” were being eliminated and that responsibilities were being added to the charge nurse on the medical-surgical and emergency units.
“We have gone unheard for months asking for additional staff for the safety of our patients, only be told now that we will have to do more with even less,” Nicole Fedie-Zaupa, RN, a nurse at Aspirus Iron River and co-president of the MNA local, said in the union release.
The staff reductions come ahead of contract negotiations set to begin between Aspirus and its Iron River nurses, whose agreements expire Dec. 31.
The Aspirus spokesperson said the system will work with the impacted employees to find similar positions or opportunities at the organization. Aspirus also has sought input from the union regarding the reductions, and said it is committed to “bargaining in good faith throughout the upcoming contract negotiations to reach a fair and mutually beneficial agreement.”
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