Oakland Children's Hospital (CHO) was recently fined $10,350 for alleged safety violations which include "inadequately protecting employees from violence in its emergency department," according to the San Jose Mercury News. That fine triggered today's press conference, where Children's Hospital Emergency Room staff came forward to share their stories.
"We have demanded that our employer provide us with the training we need to care for the children of Oakland," said Martha Kuhl. "Instead they have disregarded their obligations, and we applaud the state for its actions, while we insist CHO provide a safe environment for everyone who comes through our doors."
The nurses, part of the California Nurses Association, have said that Children's Hospital's execs have put procedures in place, but that what's being done thus far is inadequate, and give specific examples where CHO RN's have been placed in danger:
Anna Smith, an emergency room RN who took care of the patients during the October incidents said: "As an RN I am not going to allow a patient to die in the driveway, and I want to be able to focus on my patients and trust that the hospital will pay attention to our safety. Instead, their response has been to blame the nurses. They thought we shouldn't have gone immediately to the driveway to save a man's life. Nurses won’t accept this."
A Disturbing Trend Of Violence
The CNA says there's a disturbing trend of violence in healthcare industries but given Oakland's pathologies, that problem seems to be almost beyond Oakland Children's Hospital's control. But the fact that CHO (Children's Hospital Oakland) was fined means that CalOSHA believes something can be done and CHO's not doing it.
Or is it?
Stay tuned.
"We have demanded that our employer provide us with the training we need to care for the children of Oakland," said Martha Kuhl. "Instead they have disregarded their obligations, and we applaud the state for its actions, while we insist CHO provide a safe environment for everyone who comes through our doors."
The nurses, part of the California Nurses Association, have said that Children's Hospital's execs have put procedures in place, but that what's being done thus far is inadequate, and give specific examples where CHO RN's have been placed in danger:
In July 2010, an armed gunman came into the emergency room and held an RN and ward clerk hostage.
Nurses complained to CalOSHA after incidents in October 2010 when multiple gunshot victims arrived within minutes of each other, including one who was dropped off in the driveway.
Anna Smith, an emergency room RN who took care of the patients during the October incidents said: "As an RN I am not going to allow a patient to die in the driveway, and I want to be able to focus on my patients and trust that the hospital will pay attention to our safety. Instead, their response has been to blame the nurses. They thought we shouldn't have gone immediately to the driveway to save a man's life. Nurses won’t accept this."
A Disturbing Trend Of Violence
The CNA says there's a disturbing trend of violence in healthcare industries but given Oakland's pathologies, that problem seems to be almost beyond Oakland Children's Hospital's control. But the fact that CHO (Children's Hospital Oakland) was fined means that CalOSHA believes something can be done and CHO's not doing it.
Or is it?
Stay tuned.
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