A daily threat of violence

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Almost daily, a nurse is injured on the job in B.C. by an act of violence.

In an month, 26 nurses report serious assaults to WorkSafe BC and will have to take time off after being attacked.

Christine Sorensen, head of the B.C. Nurses Union, said often nurses don't even report lesser assaults.

Not only do nurses suffer the physical effects of being attacked, but the ongoing mental impact can lead to PTSD, depression and other mental health concerns.

And currently, there are no laws protecting nurses on the job.

Sorensen said that is unacceptable.

“We're calling on the federal government to change legislation to make it an offence to assault a nurse,” she said. “It is a criminal offence to assault other professionals, but nurses are not included and that is the part I do not understand.”

Nurses working the ER stand the greatest risk of being assaulted on the job due to the 'front line' nature of the emergency room, but nurses in all areas of the profession are at risk of being physically assaulted on a daily basis.

Along with physical assaults, nurses endure verbal and emotional assaults from patients who have mental health issues, are frustrated with the health care system or other reasons.

“This is the level of violence nurses are exposed to. We need your help to call on the federal and provincial levels of government to ensure nurses in this province and in this country have safe work places so that they can provide care and be there when you need that care,” said Sorensen.

“The number of nurses that are leaving the health care system due to acts of violence is increasing. In this province, every day a nurse is assaulted so severely they are off work.”

Sorensen said petitions have been sent to the provincial government demanding for more protection for nurses and two-thirds of the sitting MLAs signed a pledge saying they would commit to providing safe work places for nurses and she is calling on those elected officials to keep that pledge.

Sorensen said if 26 MLAs a month were attacked, there would be some significant changes to the system.

She said more protection safety officers are needed to help protect nurses and de-escalate situations.

The BCNU did partner with IH to address increasing violence in the ER of Kelowna General Hospital to create a pilot project that saw protection safety officers stationed in the ER around the clock.

“They worked with nursing staff to identify people who perhaps would escalate into violence. That has been a very successful pilot and we are very happy to see Interior Health is continuing the program,” she said. “We are hoping other hospitals recognize the need as KGH did," she added.