PREMISES. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TELLS US THE INMATE NEVER ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY. IT COMES AS NURSES THAT WORK AT SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL AND COMMUNITY CLINICS ARE CALLING ON THE CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS THEIR STAFFING AND SAFETY CONCERNS. JOSE MARTINEZ HAS MORE. >> Reporter: DOZENS OF REGISTERED NURSES SHOWED UP RIGHT HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THEY SAY, THEY HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM FOR MONTHS. BUT SEVERE STAFFING ISSUES CAN LEAD TO A MAJOR STRIKE. >> 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT SF GENERAL HOSPITAL, NURSES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO RASURE GENT ISSUES PLAGUING THE CITY'S HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. >> WE ARE TRYING TO ALERT THEM TO SOME OF THE CONSISTENT STAFFING CONCERNS AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT ARE LEADING TO REALLY UNSUSTAINABLE CONDITIONS AT THE HOSPITAL. >> Reporter: ANOTHER NURSE AT SF GENERAL HOSPITAL SAYS SINCE 2013, ECHOED THE SENTIMENTS, EXPRESSING CONCERN. >> I FREQUENTLY WORKED 12.5 HOURS WITHOUT A BREAK. AND I CAN TELL YOU AS I HAVE GOTTEN 16,000 STEPS IN A SHIFT THAT IS A LOT TO DO WITH NO LIKE SITTING DOWN AND HANDING YOUR PHONE TO SOMEBODY SO YOU CAN JUST GO TO THE BATHROOM IN PEACE. >> Reporter: THEY SAY THE CONCERNS ARE ONGOING FOR MONTHS. ACROSS VARIOUS HEALTH CARE FACILITIES INCLUDING SF GENERAL HOSPITAL, LAGUNA HONDA HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY CLINICS. ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF THESE NURSES, 99% OF THOSE RESPONDING REPORTED HAVING BEEN ABUSED OR ASSAULTED AT WORK WITH 70% REPORTING PHYSICAL ASSAULT. OVER 94% VERBAL ABUSE AND 10% SEXUAL ASSAULT AND OR HARASSMENT INVOLVING PHYSICAL INTERACTION. >> I HAVE SEEN AN INCREDIBLY HIGH TURNOVER RATE AMONG MY COLLEAGUES. SOY ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH NEW PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME. >> IN RESPONSE TO THESE ALLEGATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUED A STATEMENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY NURSES WHILE EMPHASIZING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS STAFFING ISSUES. THE HIGHLIGHT OF PROGRESS IN HIGHLAND AND RETAINING PERMANENT REGISTERED NURSES CITING 135 NEW NURSING POSITIONS SINCE 2019 AND A REDUCTION IN THE RN VACANCY RATE TO JUST UNDER 8%. IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID, WHILE THE PRIORITY IS TO FEEL PERMANENT REGISTER NURSE POSITIONS WE MUST RELY ON CONTRACTED NURSES WHEN NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE PATIENT CARE. THE USE OF CONTRACTED NURSES REPRESENTS JUST 4% OF THE NURSING CARE PROVIDED. HOWEVER, NURSES REMAIN SKEPTICAL WITH THE LOOMING THREAT OF A STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE. THEY URGE DPH MANAGEMENT TO PAY ATTENTION. >> AND IF THEY FORCE US TO STRIKE? IF THEY, IF THEY PUT US INTO A POSITION AND BACK US INTO A CORNER WHERE THEY DON'T RESPOND TO 60 OF OUR PROPOSALS AND TELL US THAT WE ARE DOING FINE AND WE WILL SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP. THEN, YOU WILL SEE A STRIKE. >> ULTIMATELY THEY ALL AGREE ON
