New York City's Hospital Nurses Step Up Demands for Enhanced Security Amid Rising Concerns Over Workplace Violence.
The recent fatal NYPD shooting at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, where a 62-year-old man wielding a sharp object was shot and killed by police, has sent shockwaves through the nursing community. The incident, which occurred while Michael Lynch allegedly threatened hospital staff and patients, has reignited calls for increased security measures in private hospitals.
The New York State Nurses Association is pushing for expanded safety protocols, including panic buttons, metal detectors, and the deployment of specialized teams to respond to violent incidents. These demands are part of ongoing negotiations over new contracts with multiple hospitals across the city.
Nurses at several hospitals have already reached tentative agreements with hospital management, which include increased security measures such as the installation of behavioral health rapid response teams and panic alarm systems. However, safety concerns remain a major sticking point in contract talks.
The nurses' union is now planning strikes at multiple NewYork-Presbyterian facilities, joining existing walkouts at Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The union has also filed unfair labor practice charges against Mount Sinai over its disciplinary actions against three nurses who spoke out about a gun incident at the medical center.
"We have been fighting for patient and nurse safety for months at our hospital," said Goodness Iheanachor, a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Mount Sinai Hospital has responded with dismissal." The union argues that the nurses' rights to speak out about workplace violence are being compromised by management's actions.
The New York-Presbyterian system declined to comment on whether it would introduce new security measures in response to Thursday's incident. However, a spokesperson for Mount Sinai Health System acknowledged that hospital safety is a priority and that the system is working to expand its safeguards against hospital violence.
As the nursing community prepares for strike action, hospital safety remains a pressing concern. With workplace violence on the rise, nurses are demanding greater protection from their employers to ensure a safe work environment.
The recent fatal NYPD shooting at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, where a 62-year-old man wielding a sharp object was shot and killed by police, has sent shockwaves through the nursing community. The incident, which occurred while Michael Lynch allegedly threatened hospital staff and patients, has reignited calls for increased security measures in private hospitals.
The New York State Nurses Association is pushing for expanded safety protocols, including panic buttons, metal detectors, and the deployment of specialized teams to respond to violent incidents. These demands are part of ongoing negotiations over new contracts with multiple hospitals across the city.
Nurses at several hospitals have already reached tentative agreements with hospital management, which include increased security measures such as the installation of behavioral health rapid response teams and panic alarm systems. However, safety concerns remain a major sticking point in contract talks.
The nurses' union is now planning strikes at multiple NewYork-Presbyterian facilities, joining existing walkouts at Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. The union has also filed unfair labor practice charges against Mount Sinai over its disciplinary actions against three nurses who spoke out about a gun incident at the medical center.
"We have been fighting for patient and nurse safety for months at our hospital," said Goodness Iheanachor, a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Mount Sinai Hospital has responded with dismissal." The union argues that the nurses' rights to speak out about workplace violence are being compromised by management's actions.
The New York-Presbyterian system declined to comment on whether it would introduce new security measures in response to Thursday's incident. However, a spokesperson for Mount Sinai Health System acknowledged that hospital safety is a priority and that the system is working to expand its safeguards against hospital violence.
As the nursing community prepares for strike action, hospital safety remains a pressing concern. With workplace violence on the rise, nurses are demanding greater protection from their employers to ensure a safe work environment.
they're already stressed out with exams and assignments, but now they have to deal with this kind of thing? I feel bad for them that the management is being so unhelpful. A panic button sounds like a great idea! Who wouldn't want to be safe at work? 
I'm low-key shocked that it's come to this in NYC hospitals - I mean, we're supposed to be one of the safest cities in the world! 
It's crazy that these nurses are having to fight for basic safety measures like panic buttons and metal detectors. I get why they want to protect themselves & patients from violent outbursts, but it's frustrating that hospital management is playing games with their demands.
. It's like, we're supposed to be healthcare professionals, not sheep! 
If I were a nurse, I'd want to make sure my workplace is safe & secure too. Fingers crossed these strikes bring about real change & better working conditions for our nurses 
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. The nurses need more than just panic buttons and metal detectors. They need real support from their employers to feel safe on the job. Strikes are a good way for them to make their voices heard, but I hope they don't have to take that far 
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. We need to start taking this stuff seriously before someone gets hurt really badly 
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? Newsflash: if you wanna make it in healthcare, be prepared for some crazy stuff going down. I mean, 62-year-old guy with a sharp object attacking staff and patients is just not acceptable 
. anyway, I hope these strike actions bring about some real change and make hospitals take workplace safety more seriously 
I mean, those nurse demands are super valid tho - weve all seen what happens when hospitals dont take safety seriously enough 
NYCs got some of the best medical facilities in the world, but thats not translating to a safe work environment for nurses. its wild that theyre having to fight for basic stuff like panic buttons and mental health support 
I'm with them 100% tho - as a casual observer, its clear that workplace violence is on the rise, and hospitals need to step up their game ASAP 
. I mean, you don't wanna see anyone getting hurt or feeling threatened in a place where they're supposed to be healing. But at the same time, I can see how hospitals are worried about security measures not being too invasive or controlling 
. Just seems like a win-win to me 
... I mean, it's not uncommon to hear about hospital shootings or staff being threatened with sharp objects, but this one was pretty intense. I'm all for the nurses wanting more security measures in place - panic buttons and metal detectors would definitely help prevent something like that from happening again.
We need more transparency and accountability, period. Let's get behind our nursing heroes and make some real changes! 
. And can we please stop giving these nurses an unfair advantage in contract talks just because they're making demands about safety? It's not like they're the only ones who care about patient safety... oh wait, I forget, they kinda have to since they're the ones taking care of all those patients 
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but at the same time I think its awesome that nurses are standing up for themselves and speaking out against violence...it shows they're not afraid to take action 
. And, like, I'm all for the union fighting for nurses' rights - it's not right that people are being disciplined for trying to keep patients safe 
. we need to support these women and get them the safety measures they deserve ASAP 
. it's not too much to ask for a safe working environment, you know? 