Updated: September 3, 2017
Originally Published: July 13, 2017
On a warm spring evening, I stepped away from my late-night shift in the local emergency room for a breath of fresh air. As I took a moment to stretch and unwind, headlights suddenly sped into the parking lot, heading straight for the portico where I stood. The unpredictable nature of my role as an ED nurse made it clear that my brief respite was about to end, as I would soon need to assist a patient in urgent need.
What unfolded next was beyond anything I could have anticipated.
The vehicle screeched to a halt, and a large man leapt from the driver’s seat, yelling that his friend was bleeding in the back. As he flung open the door, I was met with a shocking sight: his friend was in dire straits, blood soaking the interior from a severe gunshot wound to his abdomen. I quickly informed the driver that I needed to get help and a stretcher.
Suddenly, the situation escalated. The driver, now furious, seized my wrist and yanked me toward the car, shoving my head inside while blocking my escape. He screamed that I was not permitted to leave until I treated his friend. Without my medical equipment or backup, I felt utterly powerless. When I pleaded with him to let me call for assistance, he revealed a gun tucked into his waistband.
I was trapped, gripped by fear. Fortunately, a vigilant security guard witnessed the chaos and intervened, restoring order. My colleagues rushed to assist, and we managed to get the patient safely into the hospital. Law enforcement was notified, and we filed a report. Sadly, such incidents are not isolated; they reflect a growing trend of violence against healthcare workers in emergency settings.
At just 24 years old, I experienced my most terrifying moment as a nurse. My story is merely one among countless others where nurses prioritize patient care over their own safety, driven by our commitment to do no harm. Throughout my 20-year career, I have faced physical and verbal assaults from patients and their families, from being groped and shoved to receiving threats after shifts. I have even been injured by a confused patient who overpowered me during a routine procedure. Thankfully, I avoided serious physical harm, but I spent months in fear of exposure to infectious diseases.
These experiences are not rare. If you were to ask any nurse about the hidden realities of workplace violence, you would hear horrifying accounts of aggression that occur daily in hospitals across the nation. While nurses do not let the threat of violence overshadow their careers, the concern for safety lingers throughout every shift. We are trained to protect ourselves, our patients, and our colleagues, yet the policies to safeguard healthcare workers vary dramatically from one institution to another, often lacking the necessary support from hospital administrators.
Although 33 states have enacted laws penalizing assaults on healthcare workers, the effectiveness and coverage of these laws differ widely, often only applying to emergency or mental health staff. It is imperative that we take further steps to ensure the safety of all healthcare providers in medical environments.
One of the most effective strategies to combat workplace violence involves patients and their families. If you witness a nurse being threatened or assaulted, do not hesitate to call security or alert other staff members. Advocate for local legislation that supports the safety of healthcare workers. By doing so, you are not only protecting the nurses in your community but also ensuring a safer environment for yourself and your loved ones when you need medical care.
Moreover, when friends share stories about mistreating healthcare professionals, I urge you to remind them that yelling or being violent is never acceptable. Nurses are dedicated to their jobs, and dodging punches should not be part of our daily responsibilities.
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In summary, it is crucial for us to prioritize the safety of nurses in our healthcare system. The alarming rise in workplace violence against nurses necessitates immediate action to create a safer environment for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.