To the Editor:

We have been nurses at Southern Ocean Medical Center for 36 and 12 years respectively and currently serve on the executive board of our nurses union. Since Feb. 10, we have been in contract negotiations with Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH). At every session, we have made one clear and consistent request: put safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in our contract. Every time, HMH has refused.

They claim there is no staffing crisis at SOMC. They insist their system is working.

June 4, 2025