New York City hospitals on High Alert as Nurses Press for Enhanced Safety Measures Amid Looming Strike
The recent fatal shooting of a man who allegedly threatened staff and patients with a sharp object at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital has sent shockwaves through the medical community, prompting nurses to reiterate their calls for increased security measures. The incident, which left no patients or hospital staff injured but left many shaken, is being cited as a prime example of why nurses are demanding greater protection against workplace violence.
Nurses with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) have been negotiating with hospitals over new contracts and safety measures, including panic buttons and metal detectors. While some hospitals, such as Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, have committed to implementing these safety measures, others remain resistant.
The NYSNA has already reached tentative agreements with several hospitals, including Richmond, which will establish a Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team to respond to violent incidents. However, hospital safety remains a sticking point in negotiations, along with clashes over pay, health benefits, and staffing.
Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital say they were rattled after a man with a gun was apprehended by security, leading to the shooting of that individual outside the hospital. The incident has led to disciplinary actions against three nurses who spoke out about the incident, prompting the union to file unfair labor practice charges.
In response to growing concerns, hospitals such as Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx have already implemented measures to expand their safeguards against hospital violence, including the expansion of weapons screening systems and the placement of armed police officers in hospital lobbies and emergency departments.
As nurses prepare to go on strike at multiple hospitals, including those run by NewYork-Presbyterian, they are emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures. "No one should ever have their hospital turn into a crime scene," said one nurse. The strike is set to take place on Monday, with nurses demanding greater protection against workplace violence and better working conditions.
New York-Presbyterian has declined to comment on whether it will respond with new security measures following the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital incident, but the hospital had previously announced plans to implement a panic alarm system in various units. The company's response to the growing concerns over safety remains to be seen as the strike looms closer.
The recent fatal shooting of a man who allegedly threatened staff and patients with a sharp object at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital has sent shockwaves through the medical community, prompting nurses to reiterate their calls for increased security measures. The incident, which left no patients or hospital staff injured but left many shaken, is being cited as a prime example of why nurses are demanding greater protection against workplace violence.
Nurses with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) have been negotiating with hospitals over new contracts and safety measures, including panic buttons and metal detectors. While some hospitals, such as Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, have committed to implementing these safety measures, others remain resistant.
The NYSNA has already reached tentative agreements with several hospitals, including Richmond, which will establish a Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team to respond to violent incidents. However, hospital safety remains a sticking point in negotiations, along with clashes over pay, health benefits, and staffing.
Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital say they were rattled after a man with a gun was apprehended by security, leading to the shooting of that individual outside the hospital. The incident has led to disciplinary actions against three nurses who spoke out about the incident, prompting the union to file unfair labor practice charges.
In response to growing concerns, hospitals such as Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx have already implemented measures to expand their safeguards against hospital violence, including the expansion of weapons screening systems and the placement of armed police officers in hospital lobbies and emergency departments.
As nurses prepare to go on strike at multiple hospitals, including those run by NewYork-Presbyterian, they are emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures. "No one should ever have their hospital turn into a crime scene," said one nurse. The strike is set to take place on Monday, with nurses demanding greater protection against workplace violence and better working conditions.
New York-Presbyterian has declined to comment on whether it will respond with new security measures following the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital incident, but the hospital had previously announced plans to implement a panic alarm system in various units. The company's response to the growing concerns over safety remains to be seen as the strike looms closer.
It's like we're living through some kinda horror movie. I remember when my grandma was a nurse back in the 90s and she always said that hospital visits were super safe. Now it feels like you gotta worry about getting shot while doing your job? 
And now they're asking for panic buttons and metal detectors? It's like, yeah, that makes sense, but what about the pay and benefits? I'm all for safety measures, but when are we gonna address the root cause of this problem? 
. They're already going through so much stress and now they gotta deal with people getting shot at work?! 
It's crazy that they're asking for basic safety measures like panic buttons and metal detectors, but some hospitals are being super resistant 
. And the fact that three nurses got in trouble for speaking out about an incident is just ridiculous 
. I hope they get some answers and that hospitals start taking these concerns seriously 
.
. Fingers crossed that this strike gets resolved soon and nurses can get the protections they deserve 
i mean come on hospitals r supposed to be healing ppl not risking their lives every day 
the fact that there even have to negotiate about this is wild 
nurses deserve better and so do patients 
we need some serious changes in the way hospitals handle safety measures ASAP 
cant believe those nurses got disciplined 4 speakin out 
& now they're strikin 
my friend i feel so bad about this nurse who gets shot tryna protect patients lol hospitals r supposed 2 b safe spaces not crime scenes 
dont know how many more incidents gotta happen before ppl take action 
. hospitals need to step up their game, get some armed security in place, maybe even have a dedicated team for dealin' with these situations 
I mean, I get it, nurses want better working conditions and all that jazz, but come on, some of these incidents are just straight-up crazy! 
What's next, asking for air to breathe? 
i mean, we all know that hospitals are supposed to be safe spaces, but clearly not everyone agrees with that 
it's time for hospitals to take action and prioritize their staff's well-being 
. implementing panic buttons and metal detectors can't hurt, but it's about time hospitals take action to prevent these incidents from happening in the first place 
. But now that they're on strike, I think hospitals like New York-Presbyterian need to step up their game 
. They can't just claim to have a panic alarm system and then sit back and do nothing about it 
. Nurses deserve better working conditions and safety measures, period 
. The fact that some hospitals are already taking steps to improve security is great, but it's not enough 
. I don't think it's too much to ask for some basic safety measures like panic buttons or metal detectors, you know? 
.
. I hope those hospitals that have already implemented changes can set an example for the others 
.