New York City's nursing workforce is bracing for a potential strike as tensions over patient safety continue to escalate. The recent deadly NYPD shooting at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope has reignited the debate on increased security measures in private hospitals.
Michael Lynch, a 62-year-old former NYPD officer, was shot and killed by police after barricading himself in a room with an elderly patient and a security employee. The incident has left nurses feeling shaken and fearful for their safety.
The New York State Nurses Association is demanding greater protection against workplace violence at hospitals across the city as part of ongoing contract negotiations. Nurses are calling for more ubiquitous use of panic buttons, metal detectors, and other safety measures to prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future.
While several hospitals have committed to implementing new safety measures, including Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, which is adding a Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team, nurses say that hospital safety remains a sticking point. The union has already reached tentative agreements with several hospitals, but nurse strikes are planned for multiple facilities, including those run by NewYork-Presbyterian.
New York-Presbyterian was tight-lipped about whether it would respond to the recent incident with new security measures, but the hospital had previously announced plans to implement a panic alarm system in various units. However, nurses say that hospital management has dismissed their concerns and disciplinary action has been taken against staff members who spoke out against the hospital's handling of safety issues.
The Mount Sinai Hospital has also faced criticism for its response to a previous incident where a man with a gun was apprehended by security. Three nurses were disciplined after speaking out about the incident, leading the union to file unfair labor practice charges against the hospital. The union claims that patient safety is their top priority and that hospital management should be working in good faith to address these concerns.
As the strike looms on Monday, nurses are calling for greater accountability from hospitals and a commitment to prioritizing patient and nurse safety above all else.
Michael Lynch, a 62-year-old former NYPD officer, was shot and killed by police after barricading himself in a room with an elderly patient and a security employee. The incident has left nurses feeling shaken and fearful for their safety.
The New York State Nurses Association is demanding greater protection against workplace violence at hospitals across the city as part of ongoing contract negotiations. Nurses are calling for more ubiquitous use of panic buttons, metal detectors, and other safety measures to prevent incidents like this from occurring in the future.
While several hospitals have committed to implementing new safety measures, including Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island, which is adding a Behavioral Health Rapid Response Team, nurses say that hospital safety remains a sticking point. The union has already reached tentative agreements with several hospitals, but nurse strikes are planned for multiple facilities, including those run by NewYork-Presbyterian.
New York-Presbyterian was tight-lipped about whether it would respond to the recent incident with new security measures, but the hospital had previously announced plans to implement a panic alarm system in various units. However, nurses say that hospital management has dismissed their concerns and disciplinary action has been taken against staff members who spoke out against the hospital's handling of safety issues.
The Mount Sinai Hospital has also faced criticism for its response to a previous incident where a man with a gun was apprehended by security. Three nurses were disciplined after speaking out about the incident, leading the union to file unfair labor practice charges against the hospital. The union claims that patient safety is their top priority and that hospital management should be working in good faith to address these concerns.
As the strike looms on Monday, nurses are calling for greater accountability from hospitals and a commitment to prioritizing patient and nurse safety above all else.
like its not that hard to implement basic security measures at these hospitals. the fact that 3 nurses got disciplined for speaking out about patient safety is straight up unacceptable 
. theres a reason why hospitals have alarm systems in place and panic buttons, but it sounds like management just wants to sweep everything under the rug. nurses are literally dying on the job over this stuff 
. i cant believe the union isnt pushing for more concrete solutions, like a city-wide agreement or something. its not just about individual hospitals responding, its about creating a culture of safety and accountability across the board 
.
they're already feeling super shaken after that NYPD shooting and now they're talking about going on strike... I mean, can you blame them? Hospital safety is a major issue and it's not just about the physical stuff either - it's also about being heard by management. I'm all for panic buttons and metal detectors, but what really gets me is when hospitals dismiss nurses' concerns and discipline them instead of listening 
. The union needs to keep pushing for those changes and for hospital management to take patient safety seriously. It's not just about the nurses, it's about the patients who deserve better too 
. First, they're too slow to implement security measures, then they're quick to discipline staff who speak out about it 
. It's like, come on, can't we just keep our patients and nurses safe without having to go through a strike? 
I mean, I get that hospitals have budgets to worry about, but is patient safety really the last thing on their list? 
The fact that some hospitals are already making progress with things like panic alarm systems is great, but it's just not enough. We need systemic change here, not just a Band-Aid solution 
.
. I mean, can you blame them? Safety should always be the top priority in any hospital setting, especially when it comes to people's lives. The fact that hospital management has been dismissive of their concerns and taken disciplinary action against staff members who spoke out is just crazy 
.
. But seriously, hospitals need to step up their game when it comes to safety protocols. I've heard stories from friends who work in healthcare and they're always on edge about patient safety.
. It's time for hospitals to take responsibility for creating a safe environment for patients and staff alike 
. And if they can't do that, then maybe it's time for the nurses to take action 
. I get that security is a concern, but there gotta be better ways to address it than just disciplining staff for speaking out 
. We need to support our nurses and prioritize their safety above all else 
! But I guess when you have people in charge who don't care about your well-being, that's what happens. Anyway, I hope these nurses get the support they deserve and that hospitals start listening to their concerns. We need better 
!