SEIU 121rn Vice President, Monique Hernandez, recently addressed the CA Senate Health Committee. She discussed the urgent need to protect nurses, recounting a disturbing incident where a patient told her a violent aggressive visitor had a gun.

Michelle Horn, RN, speaking at the CA Senate Labor Committee stated, " Among the numerous risks that nurses and other healthcare workers face daily, the prospect of encountering an emotionally charged patient or visitor armed with a dangerous weapon is the most terrifying. It poses a very real threat to our safety. However, it is also one of the easiest threats to prevent.

At present, there is no uniform state-wide policy or standard to address this threat. We are left with a patchwork of different policies, each developed at the discretion of individual hospitals. This is an inadequate approach to dealing with such a widespread and life-threatening issue."

We will continue to talk with Senate members and convey the importance of insuring Nurse and patient safety.