As hospital budgets are slashed across the country, assaults on nurses and other hospital staff have seen a marked increase. An under-reported side effect of the economic downturn, many states are closing hospitals, reducing staff levels of mental health specialists, and eliminating substance abuse programs entirely. With these cuts, many more patients prone to violent outbursts have been arriving in understaffed emergency rooms.
Over the recent years, there has been a 25% increase in unstable patients visiting the ER, including psychiatric patients and those under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This has driven a 32% increase in incidents of violence against nurses and hospital staff. Many people don’t think of the nursing profession as inherently dangerous. Some nurses are working to change this public assumption.
Have you been injured at work?
Nurses deserve our respect and admiration for the difficult and dangerous job that they perform in the sole interest of the public’s well-being. Workers’ compensation laws exist to protect workers such as nurses, hospital support staff, doctors, and anyone else working in a hospital. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker offers legal support to persons seeking assistance in their workers’ compensation claims. We can help you navigate the tricky California workers’ compensation laws. Contact our offices using our contact form or by phone at (800) 333-0000 for a free, no obligation consultation today.
