Cambridge Health Alliance lays off five nurse educators

Editor's Note

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) held a press conference on June 5 to oppose Cambridge Health Alliance’s plans to lay off five nurse educators at two hospitals, the June 6 Becker’s Clinical Leadership & Infection Control reports.

Last month, Cambridge Health Alliance notified employees of plans to lay off 69 people, trim the hours of 15 others, and eliminate 170 open positions because of financial and operational pressures.

Because of this decision, a new nurse could have to wait three times longer to get the support of a nurse educator, and the system continues to rely on travel nurses and new nurses who need more support from educators, says the MNA, which represents 902 unionized nurses and healthcare workers at three Cambridge Health Alliance campuses.

A Cambridge Health Alliance spokesperson notes that they wanted to ensure that patient-facing nurses were not impacted in their staffing reductions, and though some educators may support units across hospitals, others will not.