Nearly 40 nurses, union leaders and elected officials joined a protest of Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital in Fort Washington on Thursday, March 13, Mainline Media News reported.

The protestors were seen holding signs that stated “mental health matters,” “safe staffing saves lives” and “now is the time for a fair contract” as the mental health facility’s employees have been working under an expired contract for more than seven months, Mainline Media said.

The 146-bed facility treats patients with several conditions, including anxiety, mood disorders, psychosis, “situational crises,” as well as other issues related to impulse control and trauma, according to the hospital’s website.

From the article:

Protections to protect nurses and prevent workplace violence, nurse recruitment and retention and “safe staffing” protocols were top priorities for nurses as negotiations continue. The behavioral hospital has seen an 80 percent turnover rate and an uptick in nurses being assaulted by patients, according to a union spokesperson, adding that the hospital’s third quarter report noted “patient aggression rate” has more than doubled.

State Senator Maria Collett, who is also a registered nurse, was in attendance as well.

“Nurses deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. They deserve to be able to walk into their workplace knowing that they are valued because we value them in our communities,” she said.

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