National Nurses United

J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 9 NATIONAL O n march 8, International Women's Day, National Nurses United (NNU) announced its support for the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act, H.R. 5223, introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna from California. The bill, introduced with the support of 12 other members of Congress, would mandate that the federal Occupational Safe- ty and Health Administration (OSHA) develop a national standard on workplace violence prevention that would require healthcare facilities to develop and imple- ment comprehensive facility and unit- specific workplace violence prevention plans. Nurses point out this legislation is critical, given that healthcare workers face rates of workplace violence higher than any other industry. "Nurses and other healthcare workers across this country regularly suffer violent incidents while caring for patients at the bedside," said Bonnie Castillo, RN, NNU executive director. "Our patients and their families are then also at risk because violence impacts everyone in the vicinity. We know that the frequency and severity of these violent attacks can be drastically reduced through workplace violence prevention plans that are specific to the needs of each facility and unit, and are created with the expertise and input of nurs- es and other workers. The legislation introduced by Rep. Khanna follows the adoption by California OSHA of a groundbreaking healthcare workplace violence standard that was the result of state legislation sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United. "Healthcare workers, doctors, and nurses are continuously at risk of workplace violence incidents—strangling, punching, kicking and other physical attacks—that can cause severe injury or death. This is simply unacceptable," said Rep. Khanna. The bill emphasizes prevention, training, and worker participation. To ensure the effec- tiveness of the national standard, the act defines workplace violence broadly to encom- pass physical acts of violence, as well as threats of violence, and prioritizes staffing as a key component in preventing violence from occur- ring and responding promptly when it does. Workers in the healthcare and social assistance industry face extremely high rates of workplace violence. Between 2011 and 2016, as reported in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupation- al Injuries, at least 58 hospital workers died as a result of violence in their workplaces. In 2016, the Government Accountability Office found that healthcare workers at inpatient facilities were five to 12 times more likely to experience nonfatal workplace violence than workers overall. "Right now, healthcare facilities are not doing enough to prevent these violent inci- dents," said Deborah Burger, RN, NNU co- president. "Under the proposed federal standard, hospitals would need to take proactive steps." Burger added that it is imperative for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers, along with security staff and custodial personnel are all involved in the development and implementation of these plans."—Staff report NNU sponsors federal workplace violence prevention bill NATIONAL I n january, National Nurses United criticized the Trump administration's plan to create a new division within the Health and Human Services Depart- ment that would promote discrimination by medical workers against a patient's right to receive medical care under the cover of "moral or religious beliefs." "Nothing is more basic to the professional practice of nursing, and nurses' bond with the public, than the commitment to protect and advocate for the rights of all patients to receive the medical care they need, when and where they need it," said NNU Copresident Jean Ross, RN. "With this plan, the Trump administration is actively promoting discrim- ination against transgender individuals and others people based on their sexual orienta- tion, and on the ability of women to termi- nate a pregnancy even when their life may be in danger. That is morally repugnant." NNU concurs with many medical profes- sionals who have said the plan would directly violate the oath many medical professionals take, as well as some legal statutes, that require basic care be delivered to those who need it. "NNU has long embraced the basic philosophy that healthcare is a right, not a privilege," said Ross. "No one should be denied the right to healthcare based on their sexual orientation, gender, race, national origin, or ability to pay. And that extends to political philosophy as well." —Staff report NNU criticizes questionable new Health and Human services division Would allow discrimination against vulnerable populations

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