Safer Hospitals

A new study released by the American Hospital Association looks at the cost in lost work and investments in security measures. But the toll on staff morale and patients could be even more significant.

Hospitals aren’t making enough progress in improving the workplace, and it’s driving nurses from the bedside, according to the leaders of organizations representing nurses.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the president of the American Nurses Association, talks with us about the problems facing nurses and the lack of progress in addressing them.

Michael Dowling has led Northwell for more than 20 years, and it has become one of America’s largest nonprofit hospital systems. John D’Angelo, an executive VP, will succeed him.

Many emergency nurses are attacked on the job. Ryan Oglesby, president of the Emergency Nurses Association, talks about the problem driving some nurses away from the bedside.

Nicole Stallings, president of the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, talks about the frustration healthcare workers are feeling. Many Pennsylvania hospitals began boosting security before the UPMC tragedy.

Northwell Health’s annual event sought to build common ground by avoiding partisanship and focusing on firearm deaths as a public health issue.

The campaign, ‘Agree to Agree’, is designed to foster new conversations about protecting kids. It was announced at Northwell Health’s forum on gun violence.

A police officer was killed and five other people were shot at UPMC Memorial Hospital. After other fatal shootings, hospitals are thinking about steps to protect staff.

A police officer was killed and five others were shot at UPMC Memorial, including three UPMC staff members. The injured hospital staffers are recovering.

Andrew Duarte was killed in the horrific incident at UPMC Memorial, and five others were shot and wounded. The officer was praised as a hero.

The tragedy occurred at UPMC Memorial Hospital just outside York. The gunman wounded two other officers and three hospital staffers before being killed by police.

Chris Paravate of the Northeast Georgia Health System talks about the ways they are aiming to improve security, from technology to training.

Hershaw Davis has spent 16 years in the emergency department of Johns Hopkins. He says he wants to show aspiring nurses that victims have a story.

Nathan White, an emergency nurse at Huntsville Hospital, shares his experience of caring for patients injured or killed by firearms.

Angie West has treated patients with gunshot wounds in the emergency department for more than a decade. She says it’s always difficult to talk with the loved ones of victims.

Emergency nurses share their experiences on treating the victims of shootings, the anguish of families and how they cope with what they see and experience.

Nurses who treat patients with gunshot wounds on a daily basis endure heavy stress, and they need to know when to get assistance.

In health care, we take a pledge to first do no harm. We deserve the same consideration.

Kimberly Urbanek of Endeavor Health talks about ways to help reduce threats and protect workers.

Patients are routinely stuck in emergency departments for days, or longer, which is hurting patients and staff. A recent study also says it’s adding costs to hospitals.

Health systems are hoping for a peaceful election, but they have made preparations in case there is violence stemming from the election.

A federal appeals court rules that California can’t widely ban firearms at all healthcare facilities. But the state's hospitals may soon be required to install weapon detection systems.

AI has emerged as the most comprehensive safety option available and as a solution offering the shortest implementation timeframe.

Nurses often feel like hospitals are faulting them for being attacked, rather than supporting them. Fear of blame may lead to underreporting of assaults, researchers say.

As part of our ongoing series of stories looking at safety in hospitals, Tony Jace of the Crisis Prevention Institute discusses ways to help protect staff and support workers.

Researchers found healthcare workers are facing a verbal or physical incident at least once for every 40 hours worked. Joanne DeSanto Iennaco of Yale University talks about protecting staff.

An inclusive organization is more likely to see gains in safety, says Tejal Gandhi of Press Ganey. Hospitals also must make sure their workers feel safe.

The Emergency Nurses Association released a survey that sheds more insight on the violent and volatile situations nurses routinely encounter.

Hospitals have been struggling to retain nurses. Vicki Good, chief clinical officer of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, talks about improving the environment for nurses.