Eureka, Calif.-based St. Joseph Hospital nurses called for changes in contract language to address multiple instances of workplace violence at the facility, according to The Times-Standard.
About eight nurses demonstrated July 29 to publicly voice their demands. Patients assaulted four nurses so far in July, two of them in a 72-hour period, according to the California Nurses Association. The association wants Providence-St. Joseph Health system to adopt a "workplace violence plan," paid leave for assaulted nurses and injury insurance.
"First and foremost, we care deeply about the safety and security of our valued caregivers," said St. Joseph spokesperson Christian Hill in a statement. "Our goal is to address security concerns while preserving access to facilities for patients seeking care and those visiting loved ones."
The hospital trains caregivers to recognize signs of potential violence and to de-escalate unsafe situations, and the hospital also added technology and staff this year to improve safety, Mr. Hill said.