Burnt out and underpaid, nurses are leaving their roles at local hospitals, creating a dangerous staffing crisis.

Representatives of the union representing the nursing staffs at several D.C. hospitals said their ranks are inadequate to handle the number of patients their facilities take in.

At a hearing Monday with board of the University of the District of Columbia, Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) made comments complaining about the number of foreign-born nurses at area hospitals.