On-Call Nurses Turn To Sleeping In Vans Due To N. California Expensive Housing

Many nurses at Stanford Hospital are facing a challenging reality: sleeping in their vehicles between shifts due to the exorbitant cost of living near the facility, and needing to be within 30 minutes of the hospital while on-call, according to a new article from the San Francisco Chronicle. The average home price in Palo Alto exceeds $3 million, making nearby housing unattainable for many healthcare professionals.​

The On-Call Dilemma

Nurses like TJ Carella, a registered nurse at Stanford Health Care, are required to be on call and respond within 30 minutes for emergencies. Living an hour away in Pleasanton, Carella has outfitted a sprinter van with essentials like a bed, mini-fridge, and composting toilet to stay near the hospital during on-call periods. He notes that he's not alone, with at least 15 colleagues adopting similar arrangements. ​

Inconsistent Hospital Accommodations

While Stanford Hospital occasionally offers on-call nurses hotel rooms or sleep rooms within the facility, these options are inconsistent. The hospital has not clarified the availability of these accommodations, leaving many nurses to find alternative solutions. ​

Union Negotiations for Better Conditions

The nurses' union is actively negotiating for improved conditions, including reliable sleep accommodations for on-call staff. With over 6,000 registered nurses at Stanford, approximately 600 are required to be on call, highlighting the widespread nature of this issue. ​

Hospital's Response

Stanford Health Care acknowledges the vital contributions of its nurses and is committed to reaching agreements that recognize their roles. The hospital emphasizes that its nurse retention rates are significantly below national averages, suggesting that many choose to remain despite the challenges. ​

The situation at Stanford Hospital underscores the broader issue of affordable housing for essential workers in high-cost areas. As negotiations continue, nurses hope for solutions that will allow them to rest adequately between shifts without resorting to sleeping in their vehicles.​

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