Reply With QuoteIt's about time this happened........
OK.....what all do you have to say about this story?
http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/ar...tep-809436.php
New York's new law making it a felony to physically harm a nurse ("Hurt a nurse, go to prison under new law," Nov. 4) is a landmark step. Nurses work tirelessly to provide patients the best possible care, but the call of duty comes at a price. Nurses experience violence in the workplace more than any other profession.
Now there is another side of nursing violence that we must address: the psychological harassment and intimidation that happens all too often between nurses. Bullying has made devastating headlines recently. Sadly, that culture of intimidation carries into adulthood, and is prominent in the nursing profession.
This trend is worsening an already severe nursing shortage in New York and across the country by deterring potential nurses and pushing good nurses out. It also affects patients' health. Just as kids can't thrive in school when they are afraid of their peers, nurses can't do their job well when they are being shunned, ostracized or belittled.
I hope New York's hospitals, clinics and health care professionals will do all they can to ensure that nurses are safe from psychological as well as physical violence. It's in the interest of all our health.
Barbara Crane, R.N.
Smithtown
The writer is president of the National Federation of Nurses, a labor union that represents registered nurses.
It's about time this happened........
Posting Permissions