NJ Nurses Union On Tulsa Shooting: ‘Enforce Violence Prevention’ Law

NEW JERSEY — Health care workers in New Jersey – and across the nation – have seen enough trauma over the past two years. And the Garden State needs to take another look at how well it is enforcing its own laws on violence prevention programs in the workplace after a tragic shooting at a hospital in Oklahoma, the largest nursing union in New Jersey says.

Wednesday’s shooting at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa ended with the deaths of four people, including the shooter. Read More: Tulsa Hospital Shooting: 5 Killed, Including Gunman

In the wake of the shooting, the Health Professionals & Allied Employees (HPAE) union – which represents 14,000 nurses, social workers and other health care workers – issued a statement urging for a review of the state’s existing violence prevention programs.

HPAE President Debbie White wrote:

“The latest tragic shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma is a stark reminder to all of us that gun violence-in fact, violence in general-not only affects our schools but our health care institutions as well. On June 1, a gunman entered a hospital and managed to murder innocent victims. Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise to many of us in health care. Statistically, health care workers are four times more likely to be assaulted in the workplace than other professions.

“In New Jersey, we have laws that obligate employers to create violence prevention programs. Our state must do everything possible to protect our health care heroes from all forms of violence. Health care workers have experienced enough trauma over the past two years.

“We grieve for our sisters and brothers on the front lines in Tulsa, their families, the patients they serve and the entire community. We are disheartened to see a place where many come to seek protection and healing turn into another act of gun violence. We must all work together to end these senseless acts.

“Another act of gun violence in our nation, reminds us to never forget the victims of these heinous acts, while we continue to work to prevent them from happening in the future. On June 1, a gunman entered a hospital and managed to murder innocent victims. Yet, this is not a surprise to many of us in health care. Violence in hospitals has been on the rise.

“Let this be a warning for those in New Jersey. We must enforce Violence Prevention programs, which are required by New Jersey law. Every hospital is required to establish a committee of front-line workers and managers who review violent incidents and establish violence prevention policies. Our front-line health care workers have experienced more than enough trauma over the last two years. New Jersey must do everything in its power to protect our health care heroes from all forms of violence.

“We grieve for our sisters and brothers on the frontlines in Tulsa, their patients and the entire community. We are disheartened to see a place where many come to seek protection and care had their lives disrupted by another act of gun violence. We must all work together to put an end to gun violence.”

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