By Alexia Torres Camino 

_{^{On the top image nurses from Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s are pictured protesting for their work rights. On the bottom image C.R.O.N.A is the union that represents these nurses. Photo credit: Alexia Torres}}  

SAN JOSE, CALIF. — On Monday, April 25, 2022 Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital nurses go on strike to force a negotiation for better pay, more staffing and support for their mental health. 

CRONA stands for the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement, this is the union representing nurses. About 93% of nurses voted to move and approve this strike according to NPR’s article by Jonathan Franklin

Nurses work an average of 36-40 hours a week, to 5-12 hour shifts, Monday through Saturday. Being very exhausting and draining shifts. Causing many nurses to struggle with mental health problems. Less time to spend time with family and friends, and personal care. Not only nurses, but all medical professionals are underappreciated and don’t receive enough credit for all they do.

Nurses are ready and willing to fight for their voices to be heard until proper action is taken. On Monday about 5,000 nurses were on strike outside of Stanford Hospital. Apparently, hospital management has set a meeting with the union to discuss their prepositions. 

A current junior from Silver Creek had similar thoughts, “I feel like nurses and medical staff have always been underappreciated for what they do for our communities.Their job takes a serious toll on their mental health dealing with anxious situations on a daily basis. I believe that these nurses are justified in protesting for their work rights” 

During the pandemic of COVID-19 nurses and doctors, all medical staff were very much praised and appreciated for their hard work during these times. However, nurses have been unappreciated before and for many years, this is not the only case of nurses trying to fight for better pay and better working conditions. 

We should learn how to respect and appreciate nurses better because they’re a big part of society. They care for their patients and handle a variety of categories in the medical industry.