A new bill was recently introduced in Pennsylvania to help protect healthcare workers and nurses from on the job violence. House Bill 1992 (the Health Care Facilities Workplace Violence Prevention Act), proposed by State Representative Nichloas Micozzie (R-163), is designed so hospitals and other healthcare facilities take steps to improve workplace safety, identify security risks and help victims of assault and violence. More specifically, it would require:
- risk assessment evaluations
- create standards to expedite the reporting of violent incidents
- provide employee training and counseling services
House Bill 1992 is a joint effort between Micozzie and the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP). “Our health care professionals work tirelessly to help protect and care for individuals when they are at their most vulnerable, and we have an obligation to make sure they are able to do their jobs in an environment that is free of the threat of violence,” said Micozzie. “It was my honor to help craft this legislation, and I am hopeful it will move swiftly through both chambers and onto the governor’s desk to be signed into law.”
“It is the hospital’s responsibility to protect its nurses and other staff from violence at work,” said Bill Cruice, Esq., PASNAP Executive Director. “While we’ve negotiated strong protections against violence in our PASNAP contracts, this bill would force all hospitals in the state to take proactive steps to stop violence before it starts.”
House Bill 1992 was created due to the rise in workplace violence occurrences directed at healthcare professionals, and more specifically nurses. In a 2010 survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association, over half of nurses that participated reported they were subject to physical or verbal abuse in the workplace in the last 7 days. Further, between 8-10% of emergency nurses reported being victims of workplace violence on a weekly basis.
Click here to read House Bill 1992.