Fawcett Memorial nurses stage protest, say they don’t have proper gear

Some Southwest Florida nurses are asking for more protective measures from their hospital, and they staged a protest Wednesday to make their point.

The nurses at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte call it the difference between life and death, saying a lack of equipment – like new, clean masks – is making it hard to protect themselves and their patients.

“I am protesting for the safety of my co-workers and my patients,” said June Phillips, a registered nurse.

“We are risking our lives and we are risking patient lives by not getting the proper gear.”

The nurses worry they could get sick without the gear they need or that patients could be exposed and become sick themselves.

“I am afraid that under these conditions, I won’t be able to say goodbye to my patient going home. I’m worried that I might be seeing them go to the morgue,” Phillips said.

Fawcett Memorial did respond to the protesters, saying “this is not the time to create conflict and dissension.”

The hospital went on to say “this is the time to depend on each other, trusting that we are doing everything possible for each other to come together and deliver on our mission.”