Violence at RI’s Hospitals: “We Need Systemic Change,” Says Head of Nurses Association
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Lifespan — where the most recent episode of violence against nurses occurred at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital — did not respond to request for comment. PHOTO: Nadine Shaabana, Unsplash
The head of the Rhode Island Nurses Association is calling for “systemic change,” after the latest incidents of violence against nurses in the state this week.
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As GoLocal reported on Monday, two nurses were assaulted in separate incidents at Miriam Hospital in Providence overnight — following multiple assaults on nurses reported at Rhode Island Hospital this fall.
“The only way to stop is to change our mental health system — where patients go when they have these issues — and changes in protocols,” said Policastro. “We need workplace safety in place for workers, and appropriate consequences.”
Lifespan — where the most recent episode of violence against nurses occurred at Rhode Island Hospital and Miriam Hospital — did not respond to request for comment.
Nurse Safety in Focus
Nationally, roughly 3 in 4 nonfatal workplace violence injuries involved workers in health care and social work in 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
The frequency of injuries from workplace violence in health care has risen almost every year since 2011, reaching 10.4 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2018, up 62% from 6.4 per 10,000 in 2011, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“What we need is systemic change to protect both patients and nurses,” said Policastro.
As far as hospitals are concerned, Policastro says they face a “difficult situation.”
“Any time police and fire pick up someone who appears to be in crisis, they take them to the emergency room, and they’re overwhelmed,” said Policastro. “They’re trying to educate their staff and how to deal with all these mental health issues —and lack of staff is one issue.”
“I can personally tell you on Labor Day, I was an ER — I won’t identify which one — and there were no beds,” said Policastro. “So I was waiting in the ER, with parties waiting to be triaged with mental health issues.”
The article “How to Keep Nurses and Patients Safe Amid Rising Working Place Violence” was published this month in Nurses Journal, detailing safety protocols put in place at hospitals for patient and employee safety.
Registered nurse Joelle Jean writes:
“Hospitals must continue pinpointing gaps in security protocols and missed security checks through employee and community engagement, administration, and technology,” she writes. “Other protocols in place to ensure the safety of staff and patients include: installing metal detectors; having ID checkpoints; flagging patient chart; creating de-escalation teams; training teams on how to deal with difficult family members as a nurse or other healthcare staff; identifying risks in security; maintaining police presence in hospitals and facilities; limiting entrances and exists; and organizing gun violence campaigns.”
Community Effort Required
In Rhode Island, the head of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals union (UNAP) says that while the state has taken steps to address the issue, more needs to be done.
“UNAP has worked for years pushing legislation and hospital policies that keep nurses safe, including the 2021 Workplace Violence Act, which was a big step in the right direction. But there is still a lot more work to be done, as witnessed by the recent assaults on nurses in our hospitals,” said UNAP President Lynn Blais, R.N. “In many instances, we treat patients suffering from mental illness in our hospitals because there aren't enough beds in our psychiatric facilities. In the absence of more beds, a stronger security presence is needed in areas where these patients are treated.”
“In addition, there must be significantly stronger enforcement of our laws and recognition that there will be harsh penalties for those who commit acts of violence against nurses and other healthcare workers,” she added. “These are felony violations of our laws and should be charged as such. We can't let those who assault healthcare workers off the hook so easily, as we have seen in many cases.”
Policastro echoes the need to enforce penalties — but recognizes that it only goes so far.
“There was legislation passed making assaulting a healthcare worker in an ER a felony, but that needs to be broadened,” said Policastro. “But a felony charge is not a deterrent if patients are having mental health issues and they’re in crisis themselves.”
“I hope this is going to be a priority in the next [General Assembly] session — and it needs to be a broader coalition,” said Policastro. “We need folks from the community health sector; the conversation has to include police and fire. It can’t be just nurses and doctors pushing for reform.”
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