It's about time!

...When it first came out we all felt so much better and safer, but it's not a complete safety measure as lots of people don't know/don't care about this law, so still... be careful out there!

I completely agree. The same people who would assault a nurse before will still assault them now. However, at least now there is a stiffer consequence. A big win for nurses' rights!

ToEsme12 - Thank you for the reference. I crossreferenced and crossreferenced for New Jersey.

Our statute was revised as recently as 2012 and nurses ARE clearly included as licensed health care providers (as well as teachers, law enforcement, corrections, bus drivers, crossing guards, cable guys, and whole bunch others)

Defined charges can be simple or aggravated assault.

Again, TY for the info.

I am SO glad to see this! I can think of a borderline personality or two whom it would have been useful to tell this to. Now if the hospital would simply put up a few posters stating this fact in the ER and maybe a few hallways.

Our LTC workplaces are woefully unsecure (sp?). No security guard. After 6 pm or so, the kitchen staff leaves (might be a few males there 'til then). A teenybopper receptionist staffs the front door for visitors until visiting hours are over & then it's up to nsg to answer the door. M A Y B E there's a guy or 2, nurse or CNA, on 3-11 or 11-7. (NOTE: I'm NOT expecting the guys to be any less vulnerable than we gals, nor to be the unofficial gendarmes of the facility).

So you got me to thinking - how receptive & supportive will employers be if nsg staff avail themselves of their rightful application of the law?

Unless a facility has a strong zero tolerance for abuse of staff I can foresee resistance & begrudgingly acceptance by employers who already expect nsg 'to suck it up' as 'it goes with the job'.

They need to put those kind of signs up in our LTC facilities also!!! No 'code strong' or 'Dr Strong' teams for us.

Our LTC workplaces are woefully unsecure (sp?). No security guard. After 6 pm or so, the kitchen staff leaves (might be a few males there 'til then). A teenybopper receptionist staffs the front door for visitors until visiting hours are over & then it's up to nsg to answer the door. M A Y B E there's a guy or 2, nurse or CNA, on 3-11 or 11-7. (NOTE: I'm NOT expecting the guys to be any less vulnerable than we gals, nor to be the unofficial gendarmes of the facility).

So you got me to thinking - how receptive & supportive will employers be if nsg staff avail themselves of their rightful application of the law?

Unless a facility has a strong zero tolerance for abuse of staff I can foresee resistance & begrudgingly acceptance by employers who already expect nsg 'to suck it up' as 'it goes with the job'.

I think all LTC facilities are like this. Your employer isn't going to pay for security when they perceive the threat is low. I would bring this up at a staff meeting so a plan can be made. Shoot I work in outpt and our security doesn't show up until after we've been open for 6 hours. They pay for them to watch the building when we're gone. It's not like they could do much anyway, they aren't armed and either look 16 or 70. We do better protecting and defending each other.