“Safe Nurses Save Lives”
…says a poster in one of several videos included in an article summarizing a presentation by Kathy Hughes, RN, at the APHA 143rd ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPO in Chicago, held October 31 through November 4, 2015. The theme was “Health in All Policies.”
Kathy Hughes is a union activist working to make violence prevention standards a reality in the state of California. At Wednesday’s session on “Health and Safety Alliances and New Occupational Health and Safety Challenges” Kathy shared stories about workplace violence in which two nurses were killed. One was attacked by a mental patient and another was attacked by an inmate. There are many stories about the lack of safety in the workplace. These were just two.
The message in this presentation stressed that one of the most important functions of public health is protecting the health and safety of workers.
Nurses face many challenges in the workplace, not the least of which may include humiliation, violence, and the ultimate – death. In Hughes’ presentation, she asked attendees to weigh in on the proposed violence prevention standard. It’s in the 45-day comment period with the Cal/OSHA Standards Board. With Cal/OSHA and the involvement of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) focusing on issues for better protections, they expect to make progress toward increasing safety in the workplace for nurses and healthcare workers.
To read the full article and view testimonies from nurses and healthcare workers in the workplace, please click on this link:
http://aphaannualmeeting.blogspot.com/2015/11/speak-up-for-safe-work.html
Nurses can’t save lives if their lives aren’t safe.
We encourage you to speak up, get involved, and help increase safety in your workplace!
