California Nurses Confront the Terminator

Hosted by
Polls demonstrate that a large percentage of California voters still like Governor Schwarzenegger, but about a lot of the state's registered nurses don't disagree. In Long Beach today, about 300 nurses showed up to protest at a conference on women and children hosted by Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver. About a half-dozen got inside and hoisted a banner saying "hands off our ratios." As they were escorted out, the Governor said, "Pay no attention... they are only the special interests." We speak with a registered nurse and the head of a southern California hospital-industry group about what that means and what's at stake for patient care in California. Making News: City Council Backs LAX Master Plan The LA City Council today voted 12-to-3 in favor of Mayor Jim Hahn's Master Plan for LA International Airport. At almost the same time, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to sue if the project gets final approval. We hear more from Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who put together the Mayor's so-called Consensus Plan. Reporter's Notebook: Los Angeles Times Investigates King-Drew The LA Times has published Part III of an exhaustive and five-part investigation of King- Drew Medical Center in South Los Angeles, where County Supervisors have aroused community outrage by shutting down the trauma center. The institution, beloved by community leaders, has failed to meet professional standards. Tracy Weber is one of the Times reporters.
Polls demonstrate that a large percentage of California voters still like Governor Schwarzenegger, but about a lot of the state's registered nurses don't disagree. In Long Beach today, about 300 nurses showed up to protest at a conference on women and children hosted by Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver. About a half-dozen got inside and hoisted a banner saying "hands off our ratios." As they were escorted out, the Governor said, "Pay no attention... they are only the special interests." We speak with a registered nurse and the head of a southern California hospital-industry group about what that means and what's at stake for patient care in California.
  • Making News: City Council Backs LAX Master Plan
    The LA City Council today voted 12-to-3 in favor of Mayor Jim Hahn's Master Plan for LA International Airport. At almost the same time, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to sue if the project gets final approval. We hear more from Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who put together the Mayor's so-called Consensus Plan.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Los Angeles Times Investigates King-Drew
    The LA Times has published Part III of an exhaustive and five-part investigation of King- Drew Medical Center in South Los Angeles, where County Supervisors have aroused community outrage by shutting down the trauma center. The institution, beloved by community leaders, has failed to meet professional standards. Tracy Weber is one of the Times reporters.

LAX Master Plan

Miscikowski on LAX Plan

California regulations on nurse-to-patient Staffing ratio

California Healthcare Association on nurse-patient ratios

California Nurses Association on nurse-patient ratios

King-Drew Medical Center

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton