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NY Senate passes bill to protect nurses from workplace violence

Healthcare Security Weekly, April 28, 2008

A bill designed to protect nurses from workplace violence and abuse was recently passed by the New York Senate.

The bill, promoted by the New York State Nurses Association, makes it a Class C felony to assault or cause physical injury to an on-duty RN. It now awaits decision by the State Assembly, reported the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin. Similar laws have been enacted in Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, and New Mexico and have been introduced in several other states, the newspaper said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 430,000 nurses become victims of violent crime every year while on the job. This number is expected to be low, as many incidents are thought to go unreported. Protecting nurses from violence is also expected to have a positive effect on patients and the nursing shortage, with fewer nurses leaving the workforce due to abuse and more nurses entering the profession without fear of harm.

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