Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Health care violence is every where, we need to work together to stop it!

This is real, but it is very scary. IT can happen anywhere at any time. We need to band together and stop the violence!

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson R.N.BSN MPH

Progress on Felony Workplace Assault Laws.written by Ken Steinhardt Director of Government Relations

 This article was found in the Official Magazine of the Emergency Nurses Association.


"Progress on felony workplace assault laws"  I remember quite well when the Ma. Nurses Association (MNA) was working on the assault bill,it took years to pass. The work involved was endless. The nurses would go to the state house and testify,they would send out letters to all members requesting us to call/write our State officials to join the efforts and pass the legislation. I can remember this and couldn't understand why a bill takes so long! In order to find out this information I went to the State House with a friend to ask some questions. Well let me tell you, it was an  eye opener. This made me appreciate the hard work that our MNA was doing for us and continues to work for us!
In this article he states there are 29 states with felony assault penalties  and a total of 35 states that now provide enhanced penalties for attacking emergency room nurses.

"Recently workplace violence has gained recognition as a distinct category of violent crime that requires specific responses from employers,law enforcement and the community according to the Department of Labor, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2004)" Things do take a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having the laws in place is only the beginning, WE as Nurses have to use them. Make out the incident reports, call the police, make out a police report and follow through. IT ISN'T EASY ,The life you save could be your own!

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson R.N. BSN MPH

Sunday, January 26, 2014

This nurse has a compelling story ,it is sad but very true. It could happen to you!



.This nurse will tell you her story. This is what is happening to healthcare workers. We need to stop this violence.

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson R.N.BSN MPH 

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Public opinion on health care violence.



Interview, discussing  violence against healthcare workers.

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson R.N.BSN MPH

This can happen to you! What can be done about it?

Please listen to this nurse's story ,it is a compelling story concerning a work day in the emergency room.
Any idea's or comments would be greatly appreciated.

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson RN.BSN MPH

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Who really knows healthcare workers get hurt??????????? Do they care?

Planting seeds for action is really a long road to hoe......
There were three of us that started "STOPHEALTHCAREVIOLENCE" and over the years things have changed for us. WE have taken on different roles and duties,however the violence continues and actually is getting worse. The places we never thought anything bad would happened ,bad has happened.The website has received a lot of views but will that be enough?
Healthcare workers are getting hurt everyday and most of the public doesn't even know. When I speak to people they can't believe someone would hurt a Nurse, Doctor or any one else taking care of them.I have seen a female physician kicked in her abdomen by the patient she just finished examining. The patient smiled at her after she kicked her.
Could the physician say that's IT I won't take care of her and walk away, will the physician get in trouble foe abandoning her patient ? At that note what if the same happened to the Nurse could she be held on abandoning her patient????????????? This is something I need to find out...
please visit the website www.stophealthcareviolence.org.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

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Would you put up with this abuse?


A nurse working in the Emergency room was assaulted by a patient . A patient that she had taken care of several times. These is what he did to her. How many nurses get assaulted every day?
Have you been assaulted?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Is this episode enough for this hospital to look at the realty of violence?

I read in the newspaper about 3 healthcare workers  that were stabbed with a pair of scissors  in a hospital ,they were stabbed by a patient that was inpatient in the psychiatric department.
What I was really surprised at, was the report stating superficial wounds and the spokesperson stated they expect full recovery from that people that were assaulted.
How does one not have PTSD after this? I remember being assaulted and having nightmares, then at work ,when I was to caring for a patient I would have  sweaty palms ,and a high heart rate until I felt as though I was safe, months later I am a caregiver not a punching bag.
These 3 people were in terrible danger ,I hope this hospital doesn't sit back and ask "what could they have done to prevent that" I hope things change and the hospital makes an effort to prevent this from happening again . I see a solution already, don't give Psychiatric patients scissors ,don't have any thing that can be used as a weapon in the patient's reach. Simple suggestion but it could have prevented this situation...
What I liked is the person got arrested, but I feel the patient should have been transferred out of the hospital and put in a safer place for the benefit of staff and the patient.....

Just a thought.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Levels of assault :if it dosen't hurt to bad,is it okay that you were slapped across your face?

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies BUT even more to stand up to your friends"  quoted in Bookreporter.com.by J.R. Rowling

How true this statement is.
 I was approached one day by a nurse that told me a patient had slapped her across her face, when she was taking care of him. She was very upset that she had been assaulted and NO ONE cared about that issue. She said she told everyone and all they did was roll their eyes and shrug. I could see the red mark that was still on her face. I listened for a little while longer and we discussed writing out an incident report for her and one on the person that slapped her. When the nurse turned to leave and write out the reports another nurse caught my sleeve and when I turned to look at who had my sleeve another nurse said "she wasn't slapped that hard, I don't know why she is telling you"
I was stunned that another nurse said that. At that time maybe I should have stood up to her and stated that she shouldn't have been assaulted in the first place, it doesn't matter how bad the assault is!
Do we really think we should allow someone to slap us as long as it isn't a real hard slap? What is the recourse when their is no defining line among the team players about being assaulted. It makes me wonder about their home life, could they be assaulted at home?
I feel as though I am planting seeds but not all the seeds have taken root.
Comments?

www.stophealthcareviolence.org

Sheila Wilson R.N.BSN MPH

Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Florence Prescription ,From Accountabilty to Ownership written by Joe Tye (with Dick Schwab)

" Instilling patient-centered care is not just about changing policies and practices; it is about changing culture, which is never easily done. For the staff to be empathetic to patients, the hospital must also have an empathetic culture for staff...
To achieve a culture that is patient -centered and supportive of staff, hospital leadership and staff must share common beliefs and values. Coming to these common beliefs and values may be the hardest part of achieving cultural change"
Health Care at the crossroads: Guiding Principles for the Development of the Hospital of the future ,a white paper by the Joint Commission
  I would recommend this book. It has many great ideas and as a Nurse I would love to believe it could happen ,it would be grand to have culture changes for so many reasons.
It would seem that the right hand really knew what the left hand was doing.........
Any comments?

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Is being intoxicated a reason to go to the hospital?



A person is sitting on the sidewalk near the curb, someone calls the police after speaking to this person for a very short time, the call states there is someone sitting on the sidewalk near the curb, this person is drunk, when asked how they know this person is drunk, the concerned citizen states;  because this person has slurred speech, is having trouble standing and states he has been drinking alcohol and pointed across the street to the bar.
When the police arrive the person that was sitting on the sidewalk is now trying to walk but is having trouble standing and sits down again. The police watch this person for a minute and ask this person to get up. This person states with the slurred speech "there is no law against sitting on the curb and I want to stay right here and smoke a cigarette".  The police explain ,that a concerned citizen called in that someone was sitting on the curb and they were concerned for his health. They are here to help!
This statement makes this person very upset and tells the police to mind there own business, and states to get belligerent " I am not breaking the law" Just about at this point the police say:
"You can come with us now to jail or go to the hospital and get checked out."
Now what a great choice that is.
 Do people that drink alcohol and get intoxicated need to go to the Emergency room???
Does anyone know how many people that are intoxicated are in an ER on any given day???????????