Holy Cross Economics Professor Weighs In on Increasing Nursing Workforce Frustrations Around the Country

Registered nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester are leading what is now one of the longest nurses' strikes in recent history against its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, casting a spotlight on nursing workforce frustrations amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Monica Carney, assistant professor of economics at Holy Cross specializing in health care and labor economics, told The Boston Globe in a recent interview that Tenet — the owner of St. Vincent's hospital and a number of other healthcare facilities around the U.S. — may be less willing to give in to the nurses' demands because they might be worried it could lead to an increase in labor negotiations in other markets.

In the case of the St. Vincent strike, Carney believes that nurses have a clear advantage in the fight, with public opinion leaning heavily on their side. "The public at this point is in support of the nurses," Carney said. "In the long run, that could become a problem for Tenet."

To read the full article, go to BostonGlobe.com.