Utah becomes the 33rd state to enact felony law for assaulting healthcare workers; in Massachusetts it remains a misdemeanor
Congratulations to Utah Governor Gary Herbert and Utah Senator Brian E Shiozawa, MD on becoming the 33rd state to increase penalties for acts of violence against emergency medical care providers.Instrumental in pushing the bill through legislature include Emergency Nurse Association (ENA) President Kathleen E Carlson MSN, RN, CEN, FAEN; ENA State Council President Emmaline Newman BSN, RN, CEN; and UTAH ENA Government Affairs Chair Teresa Brunt RN.
On behalf of Stop Healthcare Violence and healthcare professionals everywhere, thank you for recognizing the serious threat emergency workers and all healthcare workers face every day, everywhere.
According to the ENA: “A 2014 study published in the journal of Emergency Nursing shows that more than 70 percent of emergency nurses encountered physical or verbal assault by patients or visitors while they were providing care in the emergency setting.”
Teresa Brunt, who herself has been a victim of attack, says she will now educate nurses in emergency department settings. She stated, “Under-reporting is a huge problem and emergency department nurses need to understand that assault is not part of their job and definitely no in their scope of practice.”
Sheila Wilson R.N. BSN MPH
President
Stop Healthcare Violence
www.stophealthcareviolence.org
Source: ENA
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