In the wake of two patient attacks on nurses at a B.C. psychiatric hospital within 10 days, the B.C. Nurses Union is calling for safety officers to be assigned to each unit.
According to the union, one nurse was assaulted on Aug. 5 and another on Aug. 13, resulting in 害羞草研究所渟evere facial lacerations害羞草研究所� and a 害羞草研究所渟evere head injury害羞草研究所� while working at the Coquitlam Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, according to union president Christine Sorensen.
害羞草研究所淏oth nurses were providing care within the max security unit at the time,害羞草研究所� said Sorensen.
While she acknowledged that 害羞草研究所渢hese patients do have psychiatric conditions害羞草研究所� and are the 害羞草研究所渕ost clinically difficult,害羞草研究所� Sorensen said that 害羞草研究所渘o injuries should take place for both patients and staff.害羞草研究所�
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Sorensen said that the union has been calling for increased in-unit security for a long time, noting that attacks like these are 害羞草研究所渘ot unusual for this facility.害羞草研究所�
But the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), which operates hospitals in B.C., said that they don害羞草研究所檛 believe having in-unit guards would help.
According to CEO of Complex Mental Health and Substance Use Connie Coniglio, in-unit guards can do more harm than good and lead to 害羞草研究所渕ore aggressive acts.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淥ur experiences in other jurisdiction is that it makes the patients more nervous, agitated and dangerous,害羞草研究所� Coniglio said.
害羞草研究所淥ur focus is on how to promote healing for patients with severe and complex mental health issues. It害羞草研究所檚 a hospital, not a jail.害羞草研究所�
Instead, nurses and other health care staff are trained in how to de-escalate violent situations.
In addition to mandated violence prevention training, staff are now being trained in a U.K.-style approach called 害羞草研究所渢herapeutic and relational security.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e starting to implement it in Ontario,害羞草研究所� Coniglio said.
害羞草研究所淚t is the next step in preventing and reducing violence in the environment.害羞草研究所�
When it all does go south, Coniglio said, hospital operate on a Code White system.
By pressing a button, nurses can call for help.
害羞草研究所淚t brings all of the appropriate people to help: colleagues and security folks,害羞草研究所� Coniglio said.
害羞草研究所淧eople come immediately to the scene害羞草研究所� from 30 seconds to one minute.害羞草研究所�
But Sorensen said that some violence happens almost every day.
害羞草研究所淎necdotally, nurses report to us that they害羞草研究所檙e sworn at during every shift,害羞草研究所� Sorenson said.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e pinched or pushed or shoved, which is all inappropriate, and that happens every shift.害羞草研究所�
Although neither the union nor the PHSA provided statistics, Coninglio said that assaults on nurses have decreased over the years.
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