(BROOKLYN) - Four weeks after an assault sent her to the Emergency Room, Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RN) Eurica Walters-Rodney is still waiting to hear back from the New York Police Department’s 79th Precinct – while her assailant remains a free man.

On August 10th at Brooklyn’s Woodhull Medical Center, a Psychiatric Patient jumped the counter, put Rodney into a chokehold, twisted her neck and sent her to the Emergency Room.  The attack left Rodney - on a leave of absence from work - with scars on her face.

As she was being wheeled to the Emergency Room, she told New York City Hospital Police that she wanted to press charges against her assailant.  They did nothing, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Representatives said, and so Rodney took her case to the NYPD’s 79th Precinct.  Under New York State Law, assaulting a Nurse is a Class D felony – the same as assaulting a Police Officer.  Police at the 79th Precinct promised to initiate an investigation, but four weeks later nothing has happened.  Instead, they repeatedly have asked Rodney why Hospital Police took no action.  “I’ve been hit before,” Rodney said. “But this was the first time blood was shed.”

At the Hospital, NYSNA-Represented Nurses are demanding a meeting with Hospital Police and the 79th Precinct.  Their message, NYSNA Officials said: “It's time to take violence against Nurses seriously.  Nurses deserve the protection of the Law.  This sends the ‘wrong message’ to Nurses and to our Patients – it teaches people that they can hurt a Nurse and get away with it.”

The New York State Nurses Association - The Voice For Nursing In The Empire State – represents more than 37,000 Members.  NYSNA is New York’s Largest Professional Association and Union for Registered Nurses.  The Union represents RNs and some All-Professional Bargaining Units in New York and New Jersey.  NYSNA also supports Nurses and Nursing Practice through Education, Research, Legislative Advocacy and Collective Bargaining.