Nurses in the Whatcom County are an integral part of this community's well being and health care infrastructure. In our county's hospital, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, I believe nurses and their families are under attack. Contract negotiations with the nurses union are under way and progress has failed to take place in the meetings. Hospital administrators continue to demand more limits on health care benefits in addition to a long list of other conflicting items. These demands come after new hospital buildings and campuses have been built. Nurses have been rated the most-trusted profession for years, mainly because of the humble and caring attitude that they bring to the health-care experience. In addition, nurses are also members of the community. They have families, friends and children. In addition to a rigorous education, they practice in strenuous, high-stress environments that require flawless intellect and a compassionate touch. Our nurses serve this community with grace and humility. They value the highest levels of integrity and hold themselves accountable to the best standards of clinical practice. It is about time that nurses, along with members of the community, respectfully demand that hospital administrators and management do the same in their negotiations.

Justin Gill

Blaine