Violence against nurses law.

[metfan]

Hurt a nurse, go to prison under new law

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Hurt-a-nurse-go-to-prison-under-new-law-797349.php#ixzz1Jr9OzR8Z

A patient in Long Island broke a wooden chair and beat a nurse in the face with one of the pieces.

In Buffalo, a psychiatric patient repeatedly punched a nurse in the face and head, and struck her with a telephone receiver.

Every day across the state, nurses deal with pushing, shoving, punches and bites. It's part of the job, but this week it became a felony.

The Violence Against Nurses law went into effect Tuesday, putting nurses into a protected group along with police officers, firefighters and emergency responders. A physical attack against a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse on duty is now a Class D felony subject to a maximum of seven years in prison.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Hurt-a-nurse-go-to-prison-under-new-law-797349.php#ixzz1Jr9HclJA

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Hurt-a-nurse-go-to-prison-under-new-law-797349.php?ref=nf

Interesting article. What do you think?

[Crux1024]

If the police, firefighters and EMS have this law behind them, then I feel we should too!

Why has this taken so long?

[ebear, BSN, RN]

It's about time! Wish it were passed in ALL states. Maybe the rest of the country will catch on soon. (of course, there have been times I've wanted to do the same thing to a few fellow nurses) *wine

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

About time, hope this idea spreads fast.

[NiquiCNA]

So... RNs.. and LPNs.. but what of All the other personnel? CNAs, Respiratory..transport..lab..? should be ALL healthcare personnel.

[Davey Do]

Once, an irate ptatient, who was rather well-built, was throwing a fit with a female Admission Nurse. I came to assist her. The patient quickly approached me with fists clenched. I immediately said, "You know- it's a felony to harm a Hospital employee." He said, "I've been in prison before. " I said, "If you hit me, you'll be going back."

His behavior quickly de-escalated.

I feel more secure as a result of this law.

Dave

Edit: It's been a law in Illinois since Sept. 08

[Orange Tree]

Anyone who beats someone in the face with a wooden chair deserves to be harshly punished. I don't care if they're beating a nurse, "some guy" who fills the vending machines or a circus clown. I'm not sure we need a special law for any particular group of people.

[Davey Do]

I don't care if they're beating a nurse, "some guy" who fills the vending machines or a circus clown. I'm not sure we need a special law for any particular group of people.

Agreed. Violent behavior needs to be seriously dealt with.

However, I read one statistic which said that Nurses are second only to the Police for having physical violence directed toward them. I think Bartenders got third place.

It's just good to know that we have the law as prophylactic/ramifiction action prn.

Dave

[grannyrn65]

So... RNs.. and LPNs.. but what of All the other personnel? CNAs, Respiratory..transport..lab..? should be ALL healthcare personnel.

I realize I am about to incur wrath but I am going to say it. I am licensed in New York State and a member of the NYSNA. I feel this law is unnecessary. NYS Penal Code all ready covers everyone in the state. And I have an uncle who is a police officer and a cousin who is a fireman. They feel the same way I do. Such laws set up special categories of so called protect. This leads to others asking the same question you did. And then making demands for laws like this one.

I have been assaulted twice in my forty years as a RN. Once by a patient's son, who throw me thru a plate glass room divider and once by a gun, held by the patient at my own front door. I had both prosecuted, both were found guilty, and the second one was released after serving ten years.

We are all afforded legal protection under our state and federal penal codes. And we all get treated the same by the courts. Those assaulting us get prosecuted and are generally found guilty.

NYSNA over stepped their bounds. The nurse and others would have been better served by them lobbying and writing into contracts, more security and a back bone in the administration of the facilities.

GrannyRN65

[JBudd, MSN]

Law has been in place in New Mexico for quite a while now, it covers health care professionals in pursuit of their duties. Goes from misdemenor up into several classes of felony, depending on the level of verbal abuse or violence.

Why do we need laws for us? because there is a mindset that the dangers of violence and assault are just part of our jobs, and we are somehow exempt from the protection given the general public. I've had officers tell me, the judge will "just dismiss it" so there was no point in even filing a report, let alone press charges. That is changing, more recently I've seen officers who were in the department for other reasons approach a loudly abusive person, and quietly tell them the would be arrested if they persisted, and the officer could care less why they were in the ED to begin with (although obviously we wouldn't let someone get arrested if their life was in danger).

[OC_An Khe]

For truly criminal behavior I agree that this law was not necessary. However, much behavior towards nurses and other health care professionals was excused because it was either a risk of the profession or the patient/family was under stress of the moment and no action was taken against the perpetrator. In fact if the nurse complained about it or tried to take legal action the administration of the hospital often sided with the doer as opposed to the nurse. Although this attitude is now in a downward trend thanks to laws like this found in many states highlighting the problem.

[kesr]

I guess I'm in the minority - but I do not like laws that make one group more important than another. Assualt is assualt and is already against the law. Why would assaulting a nurse, or a police officer be a worse crime than assaulting the housekeeper? What is needed is enforcement of the existing laws.