The British Columbia Nurses Union will begin pressing charges on behalf of nurses who are abused by patients, according to an article on the Campus Safety website.
Under the union’s new policy, if a nurse who has been hurt or abused decides to pursue legal action, the union will offer legal and financial resources.
A union spokesperson also called for B.C. lawmakers to instate stricter penalties for people found to have assaulted nurses. She said signs informing patients they may be removed from the hospital if they attack a nurse are inadequate.
The union is also demanding additional security officers in hospitals, personal alarm systems for nurses and improved nurse training, particularly for nurses in psychiatric wards.