It's hard to deny that we live in a world where health issues seem to be increasingly common. From allergies that baffle doctors to chronic pain that never seems to go away, it's no secret that many individuals struggle to maintain good health. Respiratory issues, reproductive complications, and other conditions add to the mix, making it clear that we're all susceptible to some kind of malady.
Unfortunately, many modern doctors still believe that throwing pills at the problem or scheduling surgery is the best way to provide long-term relief. While certain serious conditions can warrant such extreme treatments, a large percentage of Americans are looking for something far less harmful and much more holistic. They're looking high and low for a reliable, well-studied solution that doesn't require time off work or sketchy pain medications.
At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, one of the most effective and exciting treatments we've seen work for such patients is acupuncture in Highland Park, NJ - a modern take on an ancient treatment that has been used for thousands of years.
If you're new to holistic healing, acupuncture may seem intimidating. You might be wondering how needles pressed into your skin could possibly make you feel better. Wouldn't someone pushing a needle into your back be painful? As it turns out, acupuncture is far from painful and is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after treatments for chronic pain and for regulating issues relating to:
In fact, acupuncture has been studied and practiced for over 2,500 years and, more recently, has been researched and supported by many scientific studies. While acupuncture may not be a "miracle" treatment for every type of pain or condition, it has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of issues, from depression and allergies to morning sickness and cramps.
Acupuncture is a therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that aims to balance the body's energy, called qi, which flows through pathways called meridians. This balance is crucial for overall wellness, as disruptions to qi can lead to health concerns. According to TCM, inserting small stainless-steel needles into specific points called acupoints along the meridians can help rebalance the flow of qi and restore overall health.
These acupoints are believed to release certain chemicals when stimulated, which can trigger an immune response and promote physiological homeostasis. Recent research suggests that this therapy may help alleviate symptoms of various health ailments.
In fact, the National Institute of Health conducted a survey on complementary health approaches, revealing that acupuncture usage in the United States has increased by 50 percent between 2002 and 2012. As of 2012, 6.4 percent of American adults have reported using acupuncture as a form of treatment.
One of the most common questions from new patients interested in acupuncture typically revolves around whether it really works or whether it's all "new age" malarky. We get it - for most folks, the thought of inserting stainless-steel needles into one's back, arms, or neck sounds loony. However, with the ever-increasing popularity of acupuncture in New Jersey and other locations, numerous studies centering on acupuncture's effectiveness have taken place.
Extensive research has been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions. A February 2022 analysis published in the BMJ, which evaluated over 2,000 scientific reviews of acupuncture therapies, revealed that acupuncture's efficacy is strongest for:
Additionally, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acupuncture is most effective for pain relief in cases of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and tension headaches. Additionally, a review of 11 clinical trials found that acupuncture may also alleviate symptoms associated with cancer treatment, as noted by the NIH.
When meeting with your acupuncturist for the first time, they will discuss your condition with you before conducting a physical examination to identify areas of your body that might respond to acupuncture. The needles used in acupuncture are incredibly thin, sterile, and disposable, with your acupuncturist inserting them at different depths ranging from a fraction of an inch to several inches.
Acupuncture needles are less painful than medical needles used for vaccines or blood draws. This is because acupuncture needles are thinner and solid, not hollow. During the treatment, you may experience some muscle sensations like dull aches or tingling.
Your practitioner will ask you to report any deep heaviness or numbness, which are positive signs that the treatment is working. Depending on the condition you're treating and the supplemental treatments you're undergoing, like physical therapy, acupuncture needles will remain in place for several minutes or up to 30 minutes.
Once your first acupuncture treatment is finished, it's normal to feel extra relaxed and calm. For that reason, some patients like to arrange for a ride home after their first or second session. With that said, you shouldn't experience much pain at all, and it's quite possible for you to return to work after acupuncture.
This is another common question that we get at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness. The simple answer is, "It depends." While we understand that that's not a satisfying answer for some, it's important to understand that every patient is different. Everyone has different bodies and, by proxy, different bodily conditions and issues that need to be addressed.
During your initial consultation at our office, your licensed acupuncturist will go over your needs and goals as it relates to acupuncture therapy. Once your therapist has a good sense of the scope of your needs, they can give you a loose idea of how many sessions you'll need.
Generally speaking, most patients have appointments once a week. Others may require more or less frequent sessions. It's important to note that the full benefits of acupuncture may not be immediately evident after the first or even the second session. It's common for normal patients to undergo up to five treatments to realize the full benefits of acupuncture.
There's no question that acupuncture is more popular than ever as a non-invasive, non-addictive way to reclaim balance and well-being. But what types of conditions can this traditional therapy help alleviate in the modern world? Advances in acupuncture techniques and applications have resulted in some very promising benefits.
Did you know that regular acupuncture treatments can help reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis? In May 2017, a meta-analysis was published, which studied approximately 18,000 patients with chronic pain, such as low back, neck, and shoulder pain, knee OA, and headache or migraine. The analysis found that the benefits of acupuncture therapy in reducing pain lasted for more than 12 months.
That's wonderful news for athletes and other people who push their bodies daily to accomplish goals or bring home money for rent and bills. In fact, many medical experts consider acupuncture as a viable option for managing chronic pain in conjunction with traditional methods like physical therapy and chiropractic care. The idea behind this approach is that acupuncture may trigger the body's natural healing response to alleviate pain.
When a licensed acupuncturist in New Jersey inserts an acupuncture needle, it penetrates your fascia, a connective tissue that wraps around your organs and muscles. Like a slight tickle on your arm, your body realizes that something is happening and responds by delivering lymph fluid, blood, and other important nutrients to speed up healing in affected areas like your knees, back, neck, joints, and more.
If you're like other people who suffer from migraines, you know that once one of them hits, it can be next to impossible to function properly throughout the day. Fortunately, acupuncture in Highland Park, NJ may be a viable solution if you have to endure migraines often.
A study conducted in 2009 by the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Munich analyzed 11 studies involving 2,137 patients who received acupuncture treatment for chronic tension-type headaches. The researchers concluded that acupuncture could be an effective non-pharmacological solution for frequent headaches.
The study compared the effects of acupuncture sessions with sham acupuncture and no treatment at all. Both groups that received acupuncture treatment, whether needles were placed randomly or strategically, reported a reduction in headache symptoms, while the control group reported no change. The group that received real acupuncture treatment also reported a decrease in the number of headache days and intensity of pain in a follow-up survey.
For individuals who struggle with insomnia and other sleep disturbances, acupuncture is a promising therapy. Although sedatives are commonly prescribed for insomnia, long-term use can lead to negative side effects such as dependence and excessive drowsiness.
A study conducted on 72 participants and published in Sleep Medicine in 2017 found that individuals who received acupuncture three times a week for four weeks experienced significant improvements in sleep quality and anxiety compared to those who received sham acupuncture.
Similarly, a review of 30 randomized, controlled trials found that acupuncture was more effective in improving sleep quality and daytime functioning than sham acupuncture.
While many patients choose acupuncture as a way to avoid surgery altogether, those who need surgery also use it for improved recovery. Because, at the end of the day, recovering from surgery is no easy feat. Patients may experience various symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, pain around the incision, restlessness, sleep troubles, constipation, and sore throat.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, healthcare providers may use acupuncture as a way to alleviate some of these symptoms and help with healing. A study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in January 2017 involving 172 participants found that patients who received acupuncture after surgery reported significant improvements in sleep, anxiety, pain, fatigue, nausea, and drowsiness.
Did you know that supplementing physical therapy with acupuncture and vice versa can have profoundly beneficial effects for patients in New Jersey and across the country? If you're like most, chances are you didn't.
The truth is that acupuncture and physical therapy have both been proven effective in reducing pain and inflammation. While many people view them as separate methods, combining the two modalities can produce a synergistic effect that enhances pain relief and delivers long-lasting benefits to patients.
Physical therapists work with patients of all ages and abilities, from children to elderly adults, to help them overcome physical limitations and improve their quality of life. At NJ Sports Spine & Wellness, our physical therapists help treat a wide range of conditions, from neck pain and spinal cord injuries to back pain and arthritis.
To effectively reduce pain and treat tissue injury, a combination of acupuncture and physical therapy can be very helpful. Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation and release muscle tightness and trigger points, allowing the patient to better receive manual therapy or exercise-based physical therapy techniques. In doing so, acupuncture can actually create a window of time that allows your body to respond better to other treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, such as physical therapy and chiropractic care.
There are many benefits of combining physical therapy with acupuncture in Highland Park, NJ, including the following:
You may be wondering, "Are there any studies showing these benefits?" As it turns out, there are many. One such study, published on the NIH's website, was conducted on patients suffering from frozen shoulder.
Patients who received acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in pain, while those who underwent physical therapy saw an improvement in range of motion. However, the best outcome was observed in patients who received a combination of both treatments, with reduced pain, increased their range of motion, and improved quality of life. This study highlights the potential benefits of using acupuncture and physical therapy as complementary treatments for frozen shoulder.
It makes sense, then, that people from all walks of life are combining acupuncture with chiropractic treatments at New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, including:
At New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness, our doctors, practitioners, occupational therapists, and physical therapist specialize in a range of therapies and treatments. Much like physical therapy and acupuncture, combining chiropractic care with acupuncture therapy gives patients a new way to reclaim their mobility, reduce chronic pain, and maintain a healthy quality of life.
Chiropractic care and acupuncture in Highland Park, NJ are natural healing practices that don't rely on drugs to improve the body's health. They focus on correcting imbalances in the body's structural and supportive systems, promoting natural healing, and ultimately leading to better health. These practices have a proven track record of helping patients improve their quality of life and overcome physical difficulties.
Integrating chiropractic and acupuncture as a dual-modality treatment offers the most efficient solution for removing blockages from the body, promoting balance, and accelerating healing. Rather than using these treatments sequentially, a combined approach allows for maximum benefits at one time.
Chiropractic targets subluxations in the nervous system through manual adjustments, facilitating the central nervous system to promote healing, while acupuncture removes blockages that may hinder the body's internal balance. Together, these treatments work synergistically to optimize energy flow and restore harmony in the body.
When our physical well-being becomes imbalanced, and our innate healing mechanisms are compromised, illnesses can manifest. The integration of acupuncture and chiropractic practices can effectively address a wide range of health conditions that they individually target, such as:
Curious if combining chiropractic care or physical therapy with acupuncture is right for your body? The best way to find out is to make an appointment at our sports rehab clinic in New Jersey. Once our team of medical professionals has a chance to evaluate your conditions, we can explore the best options to provide the most relief in the shortest amount of time possible.
New Jersey Sports Spine & Wellness consists of a team of athletic trainers, chiropractors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other professionals. We're very proud and passionate about caring for our patients, many of whom are suffering from debilitating conditions like back and neck pain, plantar fasciitis, sports-related injuries, and more. If you're trying to get on the road to pain relief and recovery, acupuncture may be the non-surgical solution you need to reclaim your life. Contact our office today to learn whether this exciting treatment is right for you.
732-526-2497The scoreboard at Point Pleasant Beach said 46-29, but for the Highland Park football team, those numbers in lights represented so much more than just a much sought-after victory.The 46-29 win was not just the program’s first since 2016, but for these Owls, it was a forceful removal of the burden of a 51-game losing streak, the longest in the state, that had been affixed to their shoulders.Complete Box Score »“We n...
The scoreboard at Point Pleasant Beach said 46-29, but for the Highland Park football team, those numbers in lights represented so much more than just a much sought-after victory.
The 46-29 win was not just the program’s first since 2016, but for these Owls, it was a forceful removal of the burden of a 51-game losing streak, the longest in the state, that had been affixed to their shoulders.
“We needed this win so badly. It was a well-deserved win. I think this win, to be honest, moved mountains,” Highland Park coach Shawn Harrison said. “Just to get that (losing streak) off your chest, I think was monumental.
“The losing of the games all year long, just this year alone, was weighing heavily on them. Let alone these last five, six years without a win.”
Highland Park led for most of Thursday’s game, but it knew it couldn’t let up or it would risk closing the year with another near-win that ended in a heartbreaking defeat.
Instead Highland Park answered back in the face of adversity when a 12-point halftime lead had shrunk to three.
On a 4th-and-6 junior quarterback Markos Hantsoulis spun out of trouble and found his cousin, Stamatis Hantsoulis wide open on the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown that made it 38-29 with 7:14 left in the game.
About 90 seconds later, Stamatis’ twin brother, Konstantinos Hantsoulis jumped in front of a Point Pleasant Beach for an interception and sprinted down the right sideline for a 60-plus-yard touchdown that not only made it a three-possession game, but allowed the Owls to realize its dream of a win was on the verge of happening.
“You would have thought there were 100 kids on that sideline with the way they yelled out a roar,” said Harrison. “When (Konstantinos) was in the clear, the kids finally saw that we were at the doorstep of winning this ballgame. Their eyes just got so big and they knew that that win was right there.”
The three members of the Hantsoulis family had a hand in all seven of Highland Park’s touchdowns.
Markos opened the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Konstantinos just 96 seconds into the game. The lead was short-lived as Point Pleasant Beach’s Thomas Wagner took the ensuing kickoff back for a TD.
Markos Hantsoulis gave Highland Park the lead for good with a 4-yard TD run that made it 12-8, 32 seconds into the second quarter. A 37-yard TD pass to Jowan Keyes followed and, after Point Pleasant Beach made it 18-14 after a Liam Brosnan TD run, Markos Hantsoluis found Konstantinos for a 60-yards score with 1:06 left in the half that pushed the lead to 12 heading into halftime.
Markos Hantsoulis threw four touchdown passes and ran for two scores as well. According to Harrison, two of the TD passes came on broken plays, including the 29-yard TD pass to Stamatis that gave Highland Park the cushion it desperately needed to ensure this night would end with celebration rather than sorrow.
When the clock struck zeros and the final whistle was sounded, tears flowed from both Highland Park players and coaches alike as Harrison was embraced by senior Danny Sanchez and others afterwards. Harrison was given a Gatorade shower and the Owls celebrated on the bus ride back to Highland Park.
Since Harrison took over as head coach in 2019, Highland Park’s roster has nearly doubled as nearly 40 players are now in the program. This is also the second consecutive season that the Owls have had a JV team, a group that is well over .500 this fall.
All are signs of progress and promising signs for the future, but it pales in comparison to what Thursday night’s win meant to a program that had gone nearly seven full years without one.
“I know our record was 1-9 with this win it felt like we were undefeated this season,” Harrison said. “That’s how much the win tonight meant to us,” said Harrison. “We felt like an actual champion and that we actually accomplished something. That’s how much the win meant for this entire program.”
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With the military situation in Israel and global public opinion becoming more concerning, Eric Pelofsky, a resident of Highland Park, noticed an Israeli flag hanging outside Pino’s, a bar and liquor store in town. Noting that Pino’s often hosted special events supporting various groups, he had the idea to create a fundraiser and evening of support for Israel for the Highland Park and surrounding communities. Pelofsky worked with Pino’s management, initially intending to sponsor a keg of beer and some kosher pretzels and sna...
With the military situation in Israel and global public opinion becoming more concerning, Eric Pelofsky, a resident of Highland Park, noticed an Israeli flag hanging outside Pino’s, a bar and liquor store in town. Noting that Pino’s often hosted special events supporting various groups, he had the idea to create a fundraiser and evening of support for Israel for the Highland Park and surrounding communities. Pelofsky worked with Pino’s management, initially intending to sponsor a keg of beer and some kosher pretzels and snacks, and arranged that the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey would be the beneficiary of any funds raised from the admission fee.
Notices went out over social media and word spread like wildfire throughout the community. Giddy’s Pizza of East Brunswick donated 10 pizza pies that were delivered to the event and an anonymous donor paid for an additional five. The event was held on Thursday, October 26 and the venue was packed with a standing-room-only crowd shortly after the start time of 8 p.m.
Jason Postelnik, a member of the Highland Park Borough Council, remarked on the “amazing turnout” and said “this is the most crowded event I’ve seen at Pino’s.” He thanked Pino’s for supporting the Jewish community at this time.
The unusually mild weather allowed people to take advantage of the outdoor picnic table seating at the front and side of the store, where Highland Park residents Joel Zevin and Shlomo Peleg enjoyed their beer. “With all the negative anti-Israel news, it is good to see such a large turnout in support for Israel,” said Zevin.
“It is nice to see so many Jews of all types coming to support Israel,” added Peleg.
Laura Safran, director of community impact for Federation confirmed that 330 people were in attendance. “We raised over $3,700 from ticket sales and donations. In addition, many people visited Pino’s liquor store and made purchases throughout the day to express appreciation for their support.”
Pino’s co-owner, Siobhan Commerford, originally put the flag up in acknowledgement of one of the establishment’s bartenders who was called back to Israel for active duty. She was surprised at some of the backlash and hatred that came as a result. “People were coming in and yelling at us for supporting Israel. My Irish-Catholic background came out and I was determined to not back down. I wasn’t sure if having the Israeli flag was the smart thing to do, but I know it was the right thing to do.”
Commerford added, “Once word got out about our support in the Jewish community, people have been stopping by all day. Our inventory of kosher wines and spirits has been seriously depleted by the many unexpected additional customers who have stopped by.”
As Lori Resnick of Highland Park remarked: “The Jewish community knows how to support our local businesses that are supporting Israel.”
Support for the event was not limited to the Highland Park/Edison area. Safran confirmed that “someone from Israel called in a donation to the bar in thanks, and an anonymous donor even gave their credit card and asked that the bar tap it to pay for additional beer or wine if reserves were depleted, since the person couldn’t make it to the event.”
David Seiden (formerly from Highland Park) came to the event from Linden with his wife Rebecca. He said: “I came to support Israel and the community of Highland Park, which I know has some really grounded ties with Israel.”
East Brunswick residents Bill Kokkianis and Chris Fedosh, neither of whom is Jewish, came to show support for their Jewish friends. Kokkianis grew up in Highland Park and has maintained ties to the community. Both are appalled at what happened on October 7 and are distressed at the negative world reaction to Israel’s actions to keep their country safe, and they felt it important that the Jewish community know they are not alone.
Pelofsky was thrilled with the turnout. He planned the event and would have considered it a success if 150 people came. “The attendance is unbelievable.”
There were at least four rabbis in attendance and people from all denominations of Judaism. Safran noted, “The audience really skewed younger, which is fabulous. Spirits were high, and many people paid more than the actual requested $5 in support of Jewish Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign. So far, our Federation has raised more than $400,000. Across the country, the Jewish Federation movement is raising $500 million.”
Safran continued, “I really feel the evening’s incredible success could be credited to the pervasive feeling of achdus, connection to one another, not only through our collective compassion and support for Israel, but also because—as different as we are—we are one Jewish people; one Jewish community. The half joke is that we should do it every Thursday night.”
All of the funds raised will go directly to Israel for food and financial assistance for impacted citizens: The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Funds for Victims of Terror, trauma relief and psychosocial care, Emergency Medical Services and more. Those interested in donating should visit www.Jewishheartj.org/email-donate to add their support.
More than 500 people from Highland Park/Edison and the surrounding communities gathered at the corner of Raritan and South Second Avenues at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 to view the Empty Shabbat Table representing the more than 240 people kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7 who are not home to join their families on Shabbat. The display, organized by Central Jersey Stands With Israel and supported by the Borough of Highland Park, had tables set with tablecloths, place settings, cups and flowers — with highchairs, booster seats and a wheelchai...
More than 500 people from Highland Park/Edison and the surrounding communities gathered at the corner of Raritan and South Second Avenues at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 to view the Empty Shabbat Table representing the more than 240 people kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7 who are not home to join their families on Shabbat. The display, organized by Central Jersey Stands With Israel and supported by the Borough of Highland Park, had tables set with tablecloths, place settings, cups and flowers — with highchairs, booster seats and a wheelchair, to signify the broad spectrum of the missing.
The program was brief due to the onset of Shabbat. The event began with a welcome from event co-organizer Josh Fine and continued with a moving description about those who are missing from Andrew Getraer, former executive director of Rutgers Hillel, and the singing of “Shalom Aleichem: led by Avi Maza. A reading of the names of the kidnapped was done by a cross-section of community members, including ambassador and former mayor of Highland Park, Meryl Frank; Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster; several community rabbis; and others. Following a recitation of Misheberach, the event ended with the singing of “Hatikvah.” People were encouraged to return and see the table during the remainder of the weekend.
Highland Park council member Matt Hale described the event as an “amazing display of community.”
Rabbi Ronald Schwarzberg, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, said he was “proud of the community for taking on the initiative to demonstrate support for Israel and visibly present some of the devastation that occurred on October 7 and why it is critical that Israel eradicate Hamas.”
The event organizers noted that anyone who was approached to set up the tables or donate money for the 24-hour security to protect against vandalism was eager to help. Posters of the missing had been torn down within hours at the same location earlier in the week.
Over the 48 hours the display stood, dozens of Jewish community members detoured from their usual routines to visit the site. An informal group met at the display on Shabbat afternoon to sing zemirot. Two families went to the display right after Shabbat to say Havdala at the location. On Sunday morning someone brought a guitar there to play and sing, and mothers brought their children to witness the display.
The organizers thank Foster, who was instrumental in obtaining the use of the vacant former gas station property from its owner, Edgewood Properties. Thanks also go to sponsors Miller’s Rentals and Glatt 27.
*Harry Glazer contributed to this report.
Deborah Melman is a staff writer at The Jewish Link.
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ — Plan now to enter Highland Park's Gingerbread House Contest, held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.Sign up for the contest here in advance: https://www.mainstreethp.org/g...Rules:Nov. 26:Calling all Highland Park small businesses:...
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ — Plan now to enter Highland Park's Gingerbread House Contest, held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.
Sign up for the contest here in advance: https://www.mainstreethp.org/g...
Rules:
Nov. 26:
Calling all Highland Park small businesses:
Click here to follow their Small Business Weekend Facebook event page to keep up with Small Business Weekend updates.
Supporters from Highland Park of the 1,700 striking Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital nurses will join a vigil on Little Albany Street on Tuesday night.Photo Credit: Chuck O'Donnell By Chuck O'DonnellPublishedAugust 29, 2023 at 10:36 AMNEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – More than 1,700 striking nurses from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will...
Supporters from Highland Park of the 1,700 striking Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital nurses will join a vigil on Little Albany Street on Tuesday night.Photo Credit: Chuck O'Donnell
PublishedAugust 29, 2023 at 10:36 AM
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – More than 1,700 striking nurses from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will be joined on the picket lines Tuesday by supporters from neighboring Highland Park.
Supporters of the nurses are scheduled to meet in front of the Reformed Church of Highland Park on Second Avenue at about 6:45 p.m.
Some of the striking nurses, who are represented by United Steel Works-4-200, will speak about the major sticking point in their negotiations with the hospital: the hiring of more nurses.
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The group will then walk across the Albany Street Bridge and join with the nurses on Little Albany Street near the hospital emergency room entrance at about 8 p.m. for a vigil, according to a press release sent to TAPinto New Brunswick.
“A core tenant of every faith tradition is accompaniment through times of struggle,” said Pastor Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church of Highland Park. “Proper accompaniment, a requirement for the nursing profession, leads to a variety of forms of healing.
“We trust nurses to let us know the proper and healthy balance of nurses to patients,” he added in the press release. “It should be the hearts, minds and voices of nurses, not laissez-faire capitalism, that guides nurse-to-patient ratios.”
The nurses went on strike at 7 a.m. on Aug. 4. There have been two negotiating sessions with mediators since. The nurses have said they are looking for a bump in pay and a cap on health insurance premiums, but the staffing is the biggest issue.
“Nurses are burning out at unsustainable rates since the start of the pandemic,” said Highland Park’s Sarah Caley, an interventional radiology nurse, in the press release. “This has created a perpetual revolving door for nurses in our inpatient units. It’s time Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital leadership stops seeing nurses as merely expenses and starts valuing nurses as assets. By investing in their nurses, they are investing in the health and well-being of their patients.”
The two sides last met Aug. 16 for about seven hours with the assistance of two federal mediators. There was no progress and no further dates for negotiations have been scheduled by the mediators.
The hospital contracted with an agency to bring in about 800 replacement nurses with the goal of continuing to provide uninterrupted care during the strike.
“We understand and recognize the toll the pandemic took on our nurses and have worked aggressively to address staffing,” according to a statement provided by a hospital spokesperson Monday. “Despite a nationwide nursing shortage, in which New Jersey is facing 14,000 nurse vacancies, RWJUH has added 200 staff nurse positions since 2022 and has reduced its nurse vacancy rate to nearly half the national average. RWJUH nurses are already the highest paid in the state, and all offers by the hospital would have significantly elevated their status.”