(OCEANSIDE, NEW YORK) – A patient with a documented history of assaulting Hospital Staff recently attacked and injured six Staff Members, including two Nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital.

That patient now faces several criminal charges.

One week later, NYSNA’s Health and Safety Representative gathered with Nurses to conduct a safety inspection of the Hospital - but while the NYSNA Representative has a right to access the facility, she was turned away.  

In response, NYSNA released this statement: Mount Sinai South Nassau must focus on workplace violence prevention for its Front-Line Staff, who too often bear the brunt of verbal and physical abuse. This tragedy should have been prevented. Nurses are fighting for a fair contract with strong protections - including improved security screening and response time, Hospital Safety Committees, safe staffing to prevent long wait times and escalation of violence, and time off to deal with legal and medical issues that arise in the wake of violence and injury. We need to improve nurse and patient safety - now!” 

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “Assaulting a Nurse is a shame - and a crime. Mount Sinai South Nassau must do more to protect Nurses from violence. Our Hospitals should be places of safety and healing. It’s past time that Hospital executives work with their Nurses to settle a fair contract that improves conditions and protections for our Members - and the communities we care for.” 

NYSNA represents more than 45,000 Members across the State and is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide. 

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSNA Statement in Response to Workplace Violence Incident at Mount Sinai South Nassau | New York State Nurses Association