In a safety complaint filed with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, The Ohio State University Nurses Organization accused the system's Wexner Medical Center of failing to address workplace violence.
The nurses, represented by the Ohio Nurses Association and the American Federation of Teachers, highlighted a December 2024 event in which a patient in the emergency department had a loaded firearm and made death threats against staff.
Columbus, Ohio-based OSU Wexner Medical Center said it takes workplace and patient safety very seriously, adding that "we commend our staff for their immediate action to secure an area of our emergency department when a loaded weapon was discovered last month."
"This extremely rare incident prompted a thorough investigation and additional enhancements in our security procedures," an OSU spokesperson said.
The state's Bureau of Workers' Compensation sent a hazard letter to the hospital in November 2023, outlining areas to increase safety for staff, according to a Jan. 28 news release from the union.
"The nurses emphasize that addressing workplace violence requires more than just plans on paper," the union said. "Effective safety protocols, adequate resources such as security personnel, and tools like early weapons screening are essential to creating a secure environment."