Essentia Executives Choosing PR Over Patients, Say Nurses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Laurie Laker
(c) 612-741-0662
laurie.laker@mnnurses.org

Shannon Cunningham 
(c) 61-269-1418
shannon.cunningham@mnnurses.org

(Duluth, MN) – May 8, 2025 – As Essentia Health executives prepare to conduct a press conference today, nurses are calling out what the hospital system is not doing: addressing the ongoing staffing crisis that is putting patients at risk.

“Essentia executives will make one thing clear today—they’d rather talk about nurses than with us,” said Chris Rubesch, an Essentia nurse and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “During National Nurses Week, they’re holding a press conference while refusing to fix the unsafe conditions nurses have raised for years. That’s not leadership—it’s deflection.”

Nurses have been clear about what’s needed: safe, enforceable staffing levels which lead to better outcomes and lower costs for patients. Hospital executives refused those demands in 2023. Since then, hospital revenue is up millions—and executive bonuses are up right alongside it.

Today, many hospital executives are adopting Wall Street tactics of cutting staff, closing units, and raising prices in order to boost the bottom line. Unless nurses win contracts that stop them, they’ll keep putting profits ahead of patient care.

“Even a study Essentia sent us last year shows that understaffing patient care leads to worse outcomes,” said Stacee Rosier, an ICU nurse and MNA negotiator. “Essentia has not provided any evidence that their current staffing model provides better care – because they can’t.”

Nurses are simply asking for what works: proven, enforceable staffing levels that save lives, reduce workplace injuries, cut long-term costs, and keep experienced nurses at the bedside. “There is no nurse shortage—only a shortage of nurses willing to work in these conditions. Nurses aren’t leaving because the job is hard. They’re leaving because hospital executives are making it dangerous – and then calling it normal. We’ll keep fighting for safe staffing levels because it’s what our patients deserve—and we’re done asking quietly,” concluded Rubesch.