Nurses Advocating for Nurses: Legislation to Protect ED Personnel

摘要

Emergency nurses are required to make emergent life-saving decisions while facing a variety of challenges in their work environment. These same nurses also need to serve as advocates for their own well-being and safety. In 2008, a Virginia ENA (VENA) member contacted the chair of the Virginia State Council's Government Affairs Committee and asked what we could do to decrease workplace violence and implement a criminal penalty for those who assault ED health care workers. The current legislation in the Commonwealth of Virginia (Section C of 18.2-57) had felony charges for persons who assaulted school teachers and personnel, law enforcement officers, judges, correction officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, but it did not include protection for nurses and health care workers. Later that year, two bills were proposed for the 2009 Virginia General Assembly that looked like they would change the current regulations.