Ohio Nurses Demand Action Amid Staffing and Safety Crisis>

Nurses in Ohio are raising alarms over a crisis in their profession, driven by staffing shortages and increased violence from patients and their families. They are advocating for legally mandated staffing ratios and enhanced protections against workplace violence. Ohio House Bill 452, supported by bipartisan lawmakers, aims to address these issues by requiring hospitals to create security plans and report violent incidents. Nurses are pushing for stronger representation in security committees and for assaults involving bodily fluids to be classified as felonies. While some lawmakers express concerns about unintended consequences, especially regarding patients who aren’t in control of their actions, the Ohio Nurses Association insists on the necessity of these measures to ensure safety and accountability. Emergency physicians report high rates of violence and support the need for robust reporting systems.