Posted on Jun 14, 2023
SLU nurses want help with abusive patients and better overall working conditions
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As a nurse at St. Louis University Hospital, Jessica Tulk expects physical and verbal assault by patients on any given day.
Violence against nurses is one of the many problems union officials and staff called attention to at a protest Tuesday outside the hospital, which is part of the SSM Health system.
Unionized nurses from National Nurses United gathered for a national day of action to call for better working conditions, including higher wages and security intervention during volatile interactions with patients. They also asked SSM Health to hire more registered nurses.
“These are life-and-death decisions that are being made by nurses [who] are not being given the tools that they need to make them safely,” said Tulk, who works in the hospital’s emergency department. “The threat of violence has increased so much.”
In a statement, SSM Health officials said they are “committed to providing safe, compassionate, high-quality care for our patients and the community.”
At the protest, nurses said one of the biggest factors in increased violence is a lack of staffing. St. Louis University Hospital’s vacancy rate has been nearly 40% for three years.
Violence against nurses is one of the many problems union officials and staff called attention to at a protest Tuesday outside the hospital, which is part of the SSM Health system.
Unionized nurses from National Nurses United gathered for a national day of action to call for better working conditions, including higher wages and security intervention during volatile interactions with patients. They also asked SSM Health to hire more registered nurses.
“These are life-and-death decisions that are being made by nurses [who] are not being given the tools that they need to make them safely,” said Tulk, who works in the hospital’s emergency department. “The threat of violence has increased so much.”
In a statement, SSM Health officials said they are “committed to providing safe, compassionate, high-quality care for our patients and the community.”
At the protest, nurses said one of the biggest factors in increased violence is a lack of staffing. St. Louis University Hospital’s vacancy rate has been nearly 40% for three years.
SLU nurses want help with abusive patients and better overall working conditions
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
Medical
Health
St. Louis
Violence
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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Its a shame anyone would abuse those who are trying to help them. Mental Health is mostly to blame but not for all of the abuse, some Karens (and that would include male Karens) just think they are above others. IMHO let them clean their own bedpan. maybe they'd change their mind but I doubt it.
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It's a rough work environment. It is rare anymore that I go to the VA and don't see someone being escorted by Law Enforcement. There always seems to be someone being walked around by either VA Police or somebody from Local LEO.
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This happened to me in my early years working as mental health nurse. Changes were made to make it safer.
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