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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL)

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Rep. Atkins to introduce Nurse Protection Act

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

St. Paul, Minnesota — State Representative Joe Atkins (DFL – Inver Grove Heights) announced today that he will be introducing the Nurse Protection Act for the 2015 Legislative Session. Minnesota currently does not offer nurses the same level of protection as other public safety employees.

The bill would modify current law to increase the penalty for assault in the fourth degree that inflicts demonstrable bodily harm against firefighters and emergency medical personnel from two years of imprisonment to three years, and the potential fine from $4,000 to $6,000. This would give nurses, firefighters, EMTs, and physicians the same protections as peace officers who are assaulted while carrying out their duties.

“Nurses are frequently subjected to unprovoked, violent incidents while working in hospitals and emergency rooms; there should be the same protections and penalties for attacking a nurse as there are for attacking other public safety officials,” said Rep. Atkins. “Our great Minnesota nurses save lives every day and they shouldn’t have to worry about their own lives while doing their work. I hope this is bipartisan legislation that we can work together on early in the legislative session.”

According to a report by the group Public Citizen, nursing care facilities workers in 2011 suffered 27.2 injuries per 10,000 workers from assaults and violent acts — 7 times the overall private-sector rate. A recent survey of U.S hospitals by the International Security and Safety Foundation showed this already-high rate is going up nationwide. And Minnesota's Office of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration reports workplace injury claims for assaults and violent acts in hospitals has gone up every year since 2012.

Earlier this month, a patient at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood attacked and injured four nurses. One nurse suffered a collapsed lung, another suffered a broken wrist. The patient passed away after he was subdued by police officers.

“The recent attack at our hospital is just another example of the rising trend of violence we’re seeing in hospitals and care facilities across the country, including in hospitals prepared for these situations like St. John’s,” said Gwynn Pepin, RN at St. John’s Hospital. “We need to improve safety and security at our hospitals both in hospital policies and in our state laws, and I hope the legislature moves quickly to pass Rep. Atkins’ bill.”

Linda Hamilton, RN and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association added, “MNA nurses support efforts such as Representative Atkins’ that lead the way to addressing the hazards that nurses face in providing safe and effective care.”