Registered nurses at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital are protesting a lack of personal protective equipment.
Thursday night, nurses held a vigil outside the hospital to honor healthcare workers who have been infected by COVID-19 while serving their communities and in memory of those who have died of the virus.
Nurses at the vigil demanded better protection when treating COVID-19 patients.
"We only get one mask a day, so we have to wear that one and if it's not soiled, we toss it into a bin for possible sterilization," said registered nurse Ruby Leon.
Dignity Health operates Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and released the following statement to KSBY:
"Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals support our physicians and health care staff, including our essential nurses. We continue to follow WHO, CDC, and local public health department guidelines regarding the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Our hospitals currently have sufficient and appropriate equipment to protect our caregivers and patients. We continuously assess the volume of supplies at our facilities and have additional procurement plans to ensure our employees have the PPE necessary. We appreciate the dedication and willingness of our health care employees to serve our community at such a critical time."
