FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2026

Butler and Women & Infants Caregivers Turn Out in Force to Support the Proposed Hospital Staffing Commission

10 April 2026

Current staffing levels are the most inadequate I have seen in my entire 39 year career.

- Nancy Chandley Adams, RN, Women & Infants

Providence: Yesterday, frontline hospital staff from Butler and Women & Infants Hospital converged at the State House to testify in support of legislation to create the Hospital Staffing Commission (Senator Melissa Murray (S-2258) and Rep. Deborah Fellela (H-7031). The Hospital Staffing Commission would:

- Listen to hospital workers and patients
- Review staffing and safety data
- Hear from hospitals about staffing decisions
- Recommend next steps to the General Assembly

The proposed study commission would include House and Senate members, hospital direct-care workers, hospital administrators, patient advocates, Department of Health officials, the Attorney General’s Office and labor representatives.

For years, frontline caregivers have been speaking out against chronic short staffing that impacts their ability to deliver safe, quality care across units and departments. In 2023, nearly 1,400 Women & Infants staff (95% of voters) voted no-confidence in their employer’s handling of the staffing crisis, and in April, 2025, Butler workers initiated what became the state’s longest hospital strike, citing dire workplace safety concerns spurred by short staffing.

Here are excerpts from frontline caregivers’ testimony:

The number of staff injuries has gone up dramatically, especially in the last several weeks. The hospital has been closing Intensive Treatment Units, which used to be designed solely for patients who needed more support. Now instead of having ITUs, most units are general treatment units which means the high-acuity patients are being mixed in with patients with much lower needs. Previously, this kind of mixture did not happen. But with 29 fewer beds, the hospital has been short staffing units which can lead to more volatile situations.

- Kevin Kelley, ER Intake Coordinator, Butler Hospital

Current staffing levels are the most inadequate I have seen in my entire 39 year career. Our lactation team has been documenting the effects of the shift in staffing ratios from six patients per nurse to eight patients per nurse. We have observed a significant negative impact on our exclusive breastfeeding rates. At the highest point, our rate was 60%; now it is currently less than 30%.

- Nancy Chandley Adams, RN & Lactation Consultant, Women & Infants

In the adolescent unit, we treat youth as young as 12 years old up to age 18. If a patient becomes violent, we may be able to request one-to-one staffing, but it is ultimately left to administrative discretion. When the whole unit becomes very acute, short staffing can lead to unsafe conditions where staff and even patients get hurt. I personally experienced a serious injury when the unit was extremely acute and staffing levels were unacceptably low.

- Beth Iams, Activities Coordinator, Butler Hospital

Last year, the hospital moved to consolidate my position across units and as a result, another unit was added to my responsibilities after several clerical staff were laid off, adding an almost part time job to my existing full time position. With this additional workload, I feel that I am not able to do my job at the level of quality it requires. There are days when it is 3:30 in the afternoon before I realize that I have not eaten yet.

- Colleen Hoover, Administrative Assistant, Women & Infants

Effective January, 2026, The Joint Commission, which accredits every hospital in Rhode Island, has identified nurse staffing as a national performance priority tied to hospital accreditation. Hospitals are expected to demonstrate how staffing decisions support patient safety. Rhode Island should be prepared to evaluate how hospitals are meeting these expectations. The Hospital Staffing Commission is a key component of ensuring accountability in implementing these performance standards.

Contact: Communications Office of SEIU 1199NE at 860-280-6443 or comms@seiu1199ne.org

About SEIU 1199NE: District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.