The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) and representatives from Interior Health (IH) have announced funding to pilot new security measures at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) to enhance safety for patients, nurses, and health professionals.
"Violence against nurses is a significant issue in BC," said Christine Sorensen, Acting President, BCNU. “We do find a number of reports come from our emergency departments, and this particular emergency department, the nurses have been raising concerns for a long period of time.”
On February 21, 2018, leadership from BCNU and IH met to discuss safety concerns brought forward by the nursing staff of the KGH Emergency Department. From that, the 2 sides agreed to co-fund a pilot that brings more security to KGH. Sorensen said, "2 new security staff will be added, to the current complement of security that are already responsible for KGH, but this security will be dedicated to the emergency department and will continue around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."
The additional security officers began covering the new shifts on March 11th, one for the evening shift (6 p.m. to midnight) and another for the night shift (midnight to 6 a.m.).
"In a 10 year period from 2006 to 2015 nurses experienced approximately 2862 time-loss injuries from violence...this means that 26 nurses per month are suffering violent injuries in BC and those are the ones that are reported. Many do not go reported because nurses, and their peers, have believed for far too long that this is part of their job."