October 1, 2025

Nurses Rally at Mission Hospital Over Staffing Shortages

Asheville, October 1, 2025

News Summary

Nurses at Mission Hospital in Asheville gathered to protest chronic staffing shortages, citing concerns for patient safety as North Carolina faces imminent Medicaid funding cuts. The rally organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee highlighted unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios and inadequate staffing levels, with urgent calls for better pay and retention strategies. With staffing levels well below required standards, nurses express ongoing dissatisfaction despite the hospital’s claims of active recruitment efforts.

Asheville – Nurses at Mission Hospital rallied outside on Tuesday morning expressing concerns about persistent staffing shortages jeopardizing patient safety. The event comes as North Carolina braces for impending Medicaid funding cuts effective October 1, which will significantly impact over 3 million residents across the state.

Approximately two dozen nurses participated in the demonstration, organized by the National Nurses Organizing Committee-North Carolina, part of the National Nurses United union. The nurses are alarmed by the rising number of patients assigned to each nurse, which they deem unsafe, and the hospital’s struggle to recruit and retain qualified staff.

Staff pool RN Tammy Plemmons, who has served 34 years at Mission, highlighted that the hospital is losing nurses faster than it can hire them. Despite the hospital’s commitment to hire 100 nurses in 100 days, staffing levels remain stagnant, only matching those of departing nurses. This places added pressure on existing staff who are already dealing with overwhelming patient loads.

Nurses reported unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios, with some nurses responsible for up to seven patients when the standard should be one to five. Medical-surgical unit ratios were particularly criticized. Instances of recent patient deaths, falls, and medication errors were linked to these staffing issues and the hospital’s current reliance on remote telemetry monitoring.

To improve response times in emergencies, the nurses urged for monitoring staff to return to bedside positions. They criticized hospital administration for attributing unsafe conditions to bedside staff, stating that their concerns often fall on “deaf ears.”

Union leaders stressed that upcoming Medicaid cuts would further strain healthcare resources in the region. Historical data reflects that Mission employed 1,692 bedside nurses in March 2024, which decreased to 1,523 by August 2025, falling significantly below the 2,200 required for safe staffing.

Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell responded to the rally’s claims, alleging that they were based on misinformation. She noted that recruiting efforts are underway, including the employment of trained traveler nurses to fill open positions. Lindell emphasized the hospital’s commitment to staff resources and mentioned that pilot programs for meal breaks have yielded successful outcomes.

Nurses, however, persist in voicing their dissatisfaction with inadequate staffing levels, which they believe contribute to unsafe working conditions. They are advocating urgently for better pay and retention strategies, with an action event planned by the nurses’ union proposing wage increases and retention bonuses.

Despite ongoing protests and concerns raised by nurses, the hospital maintains that it is actively recruiting and attempting to address staffing issues, but the situation remains challenging as the healthcare landscape evolves.

FAQ

What concerns did nurses at Mission Hospital express during the rally?

Nurses expressed concerns about persistent staffing shortages jeopardizing patient safety.

What will happen to Medicaid funding in North Carolina on October 1?

Medicaid funding cuts will take effect, impacting over 3 million residents.

How many nurses participated in the Mission Hospital rally?

Approximately two dozen nurses participated in the demonstration.

What is the expected staffing need at Mission Hospital for safe operations?

The hospital needs to employ 2,200 nurses for safe staffing, but current levels are considerably below this number.

Chart: Mission Hospital Staffing Issues Overview

Key Issue	Current Status	Required Level
Number of Bedside Nurses (March 2024)	1,692	2,200
Number of Bedside Nurses (August 2025)	1,523	2,200
Patient-to-Nurse Ratio (Medical-Surgical Unit)	1 to 7	1 to 5