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Nurse union rep tells committee executive raises at public hospitals undermine recruitment and retention
Summary
Adrienne Inghouse, a union representative and nurse, said hospital administrators repeatedly told staff there was no money for recruitment and retention yet gave large raises and bonuses to executives; she urged the legislature to tie future funding to specific performance outcomes and said she will provide contracts and supporting documents.
Adrienne Inghouse, a union representative for United Health Professionals of New Mexico (American Federation of Teachers) and a veteran nurse, used public comment time to raise concerns about staffing and compensation at public hospitals.
Inghouse told the committee that negotiations with hospital management have repeatedly failed to address staffing shortages and patient‑care concerns because administrators say there is "no money" for recruitment and retention. She said she obtained contracts through a records request showing large executive raises and bonuses at institutions she represents: "CEO Becker not only this year but next year a 26% raise on top of her $1,200,000 salary. COO Mike Ciccarelli is getting a 16% raise," she told the panel.
She urged legislators to require stronger accountability from public institutions that request state funds, including tying appropriations to concrete outcomes such as improved staffing metrics and higher quality scores (she referenced Leapfrog ratings). Inghouse said she would share documentation with the committee to support her claims and recommended outcome‑based conditions on funding requests.
