Nurses at Greater Risk of Abuse than Police and Firefighters

Nurses are 16X more at risk of being abused on the job than any other profession, including police and firefighters. Police and firefighters are considered public servants, nurses are not. Nurses are employees in the business of healthcare. Primarily private employers that are in the business of making money. Nursing does not make money for any entity, but are responsible for the most significant portion of the profit margin. We have to create a culture in our working environments that support a culture of safety. It is NOT part of the nursing job to be abuse. It is ok to report unsafe work environments to OSHA. It is within our rights to report abuse to the authorities. It is within our rights, and quite frankly, our responsibility, to press charges against our offenders. Start creating this culture in your little corner of the world. Report unsafe working environments to OSHA.

1-800-321-OSHA.

Only 7 states have laws that require healthcare facilities to have internal programs to prevent violence against their employees. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington. If you don't live in those 7 states, your safety at work falls under OSHA guidelines. OSHA has no authority to require any employer to implement programs to prevent workplace violence. It is only a voluntary request. OSHA has a budget of $4.37 per American employee. Additionally, there is no federal law to protect healthcare workers from workplace violence. We are not trained to de-escalate, we are not trained to do take-downs, we are not trained to carry weapons, yet TSA agents that have this type of training have federal laws to protect them. Our safety falls under an office that have an annual budget of $4.37 to protect each one of us. My life is worth more than $4.37. Take action, take the pledge, create safe working environments, hold our employers accountable. To take the ANA pledge, text PLEDGE to 52886. Email your congressional representatives. If you don't know who to email, reach out, I will help you.