WHITINSVILLE, Mass. – A sign at the entrance of Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation reads "nursing positions." It's because nurses like Hailey Minichiello are leaving the facility, saying some are going weeks at a time without a paycheck.

"Once they do go through, we've had multiple checks bounce," Minichiello said. "So it just gets sucked right out of our account, and I'm due to come in at 7 p.m. that night. And I'm like, 'oh my gosh, my account is negative.'"

Paychecks are just the tip of the iceberg, she said.

Minichiello, who left her job this week, says conditions inside the facility are deteriorating, with patients not getting their medications on time, a lack of necessary equipment and severe staffing shortages.

"They're trying to look for supplies, and I'm standing there and I'm like, 'I'm sorry, I don't have any of that gauze for you, or those ace wraps. We don't have them,'" Minichiello said. "And the residents, I mean, they get affected. Small things are major things when it comes to health."

The facility is being operated by Blupoint Healthcare. Some of the nurses got in touch with state Senator Ryan Fattman, who says he's disturbed by the situation.

"From what I'm being told, it's borderline criminal," Fattman said. "This is wage theft, there are chapter 93a considerations, which is consumer protection. Families should have been notified."

Nurses say rapid response teams from the state's Department of Public Health have started filling some of the voids at the building, but it's nowhere near enough for the more than 130-bed facility. DPH confirmed their assistance on site, and told Spectrum News 1 they remain actively engaged in the matter and will continue to provide assistance and monitor the situation.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to Blupoint Healthcare for comment, but did not receive a response as of Friday afternoon.

"So, nurses are working 18, 16, and it's last-minute, so you come in for just a 12, and you don't know that you're going to get mandated to stay the whole shift," Minichiello said. "So you don't have food, you don't have your babysitter. But we're nurses. We have to stay."

Some of the nurses said if Blupoint were to leave, they'd consider returning to the facility. Blupoint also runs facilities in the western part of the state, and after speaking with some of his colleagues, Fattman said they, too, are having similar issues.