Nurses picket at Ascension Via Christi, claim staffing issues and workplace violence

As nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, it is alarming when they voice their concerns through protests. A group of nurses held a protest recently outside Ascension Via Christi hospital in Wichita, Kansas, claiming that the hospital has staffing issues and inadequate security measures leading to an increase in workplace violence against them. The nurses said that the working conditions are becoming unbearable, and if the hospital authorities do not address their concerns, they will strike.

According to the Kansas National Nurses United (NNU), there have been 120 reported incidents of workplace violence against nurses over the past three years, and the hospital administration has not done anything significant to prevent them. The protestors demanded better training for staff on ways to deal with violent patients, hiring of more nurses to address staffing shortages, and implementing safety protocols to reduce the risks.

Ascension Via Christi’s officials said they take the safety and well-being of their staff very seriously and are actively working to address the concerns raised by the nurses. They claimed to have already added more than 150 new positions in nursing, support staff, and security in the last year and are committed to continuing the same. The facility also said they have installed security cameras, instituted employee badges, and have improved patient education to help lower the risk of violence against employees.

This news highlights the need for hospitals and healthcare facilities to take the safety of their nurses seriously and implement measures to improve working conditions. Nurses play a vital role in patient care, and if they are not protected, it could negatively affect the quality of healthcare. It is essential that hospitals listen to their concerns and take the necessary steps to ensure their safety and well-being.