Hospital spokeswoman Brandei Clifton said the pandemic has driven at least some of the increase. One nurse had to get her shoulder X-rayed after an attack. “And now we’re being in some areas harassed and disbelieved and ridiculed for what we’re trying to do, which is just depressing and frustrating.”Ĭox Medical Center Branson in Missouri started giving panic buttons to up to 400 nurses and other employees after assaults per year tripled between 20 to 123, a spokeswoman said.
Stu Coffman, a Dallas-based emergency room physician. “A year ago, we’re health care heroes and everybody’s clapping for us,” said Dr. health care workers on the front lines against COVID-19 were saluted as heroes with nightly clapping from windows and balconies, some are being issued panic buttons in case of assault and ditching their scrubs before going out in public for fear of harassment.Īcross the country, doctors and nurses are dealing with hostility, threats and violence from patients angry over safety rules designed to keep the scourge from spreading.
