NEW YORK NURSE: March 2007
by Nancy Webber
A disturbingly large number of nurses are the victims of violent crimes in their workplaces – nearly 500,000 per year in the U.S., according to the Department of Justice.
In a NYSNA survey released in 2004, one quarter of the RNs responding had either experienced or witnessed a physical assault where they worked. More than 34% of all violent incidents were perpetrated by patients and nearly 10% by patients’ visitors.
“Nursing is a dangerous occupation,” says Renée Gecsedi, director of the NYSNA Nursing Advocacy & Information (NAI) Program. “More than half of the violent acts against workers happen in healthcare settings. Nurses are exposed to many of the same risks as police and firefighters, but without similar support from the legal system.”
The most common work areas where nurses face violence are medical-surgical units (24%), emergency departments (22%), and psychiatric units (20%).
A bill written and supported by NYSNA (A6186/S3441) would make it a Class C felony to assault and cause physical injury to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. This provision already exists for assaults on police officers, peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
A more serious charge and higher penalty for violent crimes against nurses would serve as a deterrent, according to the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn). “We have tried to protect other professionals who serve the public. We should do the same for nurses, who play such an important role in protecting the public’s health. The healthcare field is experiencing an overwhelming shortage of nurses, and it is imperative that every measure be taken to ensure the protection of their safety. Our nurses play a most critical role in society and in care for all of us. We should always stand ready to assist them and ensure a safe workplace.”
The bill is sponsored in the Assembly by David Koon (D-Monroe County).
It also is hoped that raising the penalty for physically attacking a nurse will increase its importance in the eyes of law enforcement agencies.
For example, after a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital was attacked for the second time by a patient in the adult psychiatric unit, officers at the local NYPD precinct refused his request to file a report. In response to this and other incidents, the NYSNA Delegate Assembly endorsed the current legislative proposal.
“Police agencies often consider assaults on hospital personnel to be routine – just a regular hazard of the job,” said Patricia Kane, chair of the DA Legislative Committee. “This incident gave us further verification that the laws and the way they are enforced need to be changed.”
The state now has a law that requires public employers to develop violence prevention programs. The law affects nurses who work for the State of New York, counties, cities, public authorities, and public benefit corporations. NYSNA is still lobbying for legislation that would require all employers to take steps to prevent workplace violence.
In addition, nurses in NYSNA local bargaining units are taking action within their own facilities. Some contract agreements include mandatory health and safety committees. Even where nurses do not have this type of agreement, they can often convince employers to deal with problems that present a risk to both nurses and patients.
NYSNA members who are concerned about workplace violence at their facilities may contact Thomas Lowe, NYSNA Occupational Health & Safety Representative, at 888-551-3112, ext. 200.