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2.24.2000
Task Force
concludes:...Workplace
Violence Is Not "Part of The Job"
By Evelyn Bain, MNA Associate Director of Occupational Health & Safety
On Thursday
evening, February 24, 2000, the Cabinet for Labor Relations convened a
Task Force on Workplace Violence. The Domestic Violence Task Force signed
on to lends its experience and expertise. The MNA Task Force on Workplace
Violence will develop a comprehensive plan to address this escalating
epidemic in healthcare settings.
Although
this issue has long been a concern for members and their co-workers, the
catalyst for forming the Task Force was a recent episode in a Quincy mental
health facility compounded by the cruelty suffered by the injured nurse
in the Quincy District Court.
A nurse was
brutally assaulted by a client and made the decision to press criminal
charges. During the court hearing, the magistrate declared "that's
part of the job" and dismissed the case. In spite of this second "beating"
by the magistrate, the nurse persisted and won an appeal. At the
time of the appeal, this time before a judge with the same attitude as
the magistrate, the nurse was again chastised for her actions.
This assault
and the magistrate's response had been discussed at the Cabinet for Labor
Relations meeting in January. Leslie Sullivan, Cabinet member and Chairperson
of NursePlan, called for forming a Task Force to address Workplace.
Cabinet members unanimously agreed that the MNA should speak with a powerful
voice and develop commanding strategies to protect nurses.
The initial
charges to the Task Force included:
- Education
of External Authorities (Courts, Law Enforcement, Legislators)
Eleven MNA members, including 5 from the Domestic Violence Task Force,
with two participating from remote locations on speaker phone, joined
together at MNA Headquarters in Canton to develop the plan to address
these unacceptable horrors in the work life of nurses and others.
Karen Higgins, Chairperson of the Cabinet for Labor Relations chaired
the meeting. Two Task Force members are distinguished authors and lecturers
in several aspects of violence, Annie Lewis O'Connor in domestic violence
and Marilyn Lanza, on workplace violence.
Several members
of the Task Force had survived attacks by patients/clients and shared
their stories. The horror of these attacks and their physical and emotional
consequences were evident to all who heard their stories. One nurse had
been treated fairly in court, only to be treated shamefully by her facility
and supervisors, no support services were offered and no compassion for
her injuries or her need to heal emotionally, were expressed by most management
representatives. Once the physical injuries were healed, the emotional
pain was exacerbated by poorly organized support services and lack of
compassion.
Domestic
Violence Task Force members, with their extensive knowledge of the Judicial
System, had many concerns relating to the Quincy incident and nurse's
treatment by the Court. Where was the Court Appointed Advocate that
is required by law for victims of violence? Why was the victim treated
with no respect by the magistrate and then the judge? They
will seek answers to these questions directly from the District Attorney.
With the
compassion, caring and conviction of eleven energized nurses, working
, on an issue of preventable injuries, poorly organized treatment and
support services, and loaded with educational opportunities, the campaign
for the MNA response to workplace violence began to take shape.
The group
identified the following immediate objectives:
- Organize
a meeting with the District Attorney and the Task Force to address issues
of respect and advocacy for nurses who file charges related to workplace
violence
- Develop
and distribute a brochure to help nurses and other victims to understand
their rights in the Court System
- Identify
an organized response system within local MNA Professional (bargaining)
Units to assist nurses who have been assaulted
- Develop
contract language that addresses issues related to assaults such as
staffing, training and an organized and appropriate response to victims
- Identify
and promote programs that reduce assaults on nurses and other health
care workers
MNA members
who attended the organizational meeting for the Task Force on Workplace
Violence in addition to Karen Higgins, Annie Lewis O'Connor and Marilyn
Lanza included Rosemary Connors, Rosemary O'Brien, Mary Wyzynski, Mary Costanza,
Elizabeth Garvey, Mary Gagne, Ann Brady, and Jennifer Berger.
If
you are interested in participating or want more information contact Evie
Bain, MNA Occupational Safety and Health Specialist at (800) 882-2056
x776 or at eviebain@mnarn.org.
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