The hospital finally reversed their disciplinary action against Joselyn and acknowledged that our safety in the ED must be a priority. I am incredibly relieved that she is getting the justice she deserves because no nurse should be punished for surviving an attack. We proved that we are not invisible …
March 5, 2024
Final supporters
To ED Administration and Human Resources of Montefiore:
We, the undersigned Montefiore clinicians and staff, were shocked and dismayed by the draconian measures taken against one of our own colleagues, Joselyn Baez, by your offices.
Due to the overcrowding and extraordinarily unpleasant conditions within our Emergency Departments, as well as assorted dysfunctions of the admissions system and primary care deficits, our EDs are extremely stressful places for both patients and providers.
Additionally, with the upsurge in mental illness and the deteriorating conditions in our communities, we are besieged with patients and visitors who often vent their frustrations on the ED staff. Daily, these feelings translate into rampant disrespect, violent speech, threats and attacks, some of which result in physical injury; all of which result in psychological trauma to varying degrees.
In August, Joselyn was the victim of such a physical attack, causing injury to her person. Physical violence is serious! When it’s not the first time, and little is done to protect us by our Employer, subsequent attacks can serve as triggers. As we said during the Pandemic, “We may be super-heroes but we are not super-human.”
When an employee is attacked, professional or otherwise, that employee immediately becomes a patient and can no longer be treated as an employee. That worker requires rescue, support and treatment. Several of the ED staff that day did offer support, but the result of the trauma was beyond our capabilities and Ms. Baez was able to obtain more appropriate support from the OHS staff, away from the area of the attack. Subsequently, the patient was placed under arrest and the case is pending under the auspices of the Bronx District Attorney’s office.
Montefiore, rather than doing a meaningful investigation into how to better protect ED staff, instead chose to scrutinize Joselyn’s reaction to the attack! Except for her union and other coworkers, no one from administration reached out to her to see how she was recovering. Instead, she was placed on leave and months later, was told she would be terminated for an “unprofessional response.” She never caused any harm to her attacker while nursing her own wounds, but was clearly hurt and angered, which is completely understandable.
ED Staff all feel like sitting ducks, subject to the whims, behaviors and exasperations of our patients and visitors. We do not feel protected. We do not feel supported. And when Montefiore chooses to add insult to injury, to fire an employee who is attacked due to the hospital’s own negligence in creating a safe work space, the old adage “An attack against one is an attack against all” comes to mind.
We call for the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Baez and immediate moves to remediate the conditions that lead to these attacks and the dangers we are all in, simply by coming to work.
Sincerely,
****P.S.: After signing this petition, it brings you to a donation page. That donation is NOT a NYSNA related donation.****
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
December 21, 2023
December 17, 2023
Seeing one hundred of my colleagues sign this in such a short time confirms that we are all feeling the same weight of this injustice. Joselyn deserves the protection our hospital has denied her and your support reminds me that we refuse to be treated as disposable.
December 17, 2023
I have been hearing from so many of you who have endured similar trauma while just trying to do your jobs. The silence from administration remains deafening but your messages are keeping me focused on what matters.
Reached 100 supporters
December 16, 2023
103 Comments
Montefiore needs to protect us better. We should not get assaulted while at work. Everyone respondes to violence differently. She should have been offered therapy for PTSD not fired.
Montefiore management needs to hire more nurses and staff to create safe situations for both patients and staff. There is no respect for nurses at montefiore and it is extremely disheartening. It causes moral distress and leads to severe nurse burn out.
I witnessed the incident. Baez did not provoke it. I also attempted pressing the button for security alert and it did not work.
No health care provider should have to feel threatened or scared to come to work. Montefiore needs to do more. Instead of spending money on adds and billboards , spend it on extra security or staffing. I’m disgusted On the lack of care For the employees.
Physical assault against a nurse is a felony! The healthcare industry turns a blind eye to such assaults and retaliation is their only response. Inadequate management knowledge and skills needs to be addressed instead of further victimization of the assaulted staff.
STANDING WITH MY FELLOW NURSE
Nurses are underpaid and now we’re getting physically abused
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The hospital finally reversed their disciplinary action against Joselyn and acknowledged that our safety in the ED must be a priority. I am incredibly relieved that she is getting the justice she deserves because no nurse should be punished for surviving an attack. We proved that we are not invisible …
March 5, 2024
Final supporters
To ED Administration and Human Resources of Montefiore:
We, the undersigned Montefiore clinicians and staff, were shocked and dismayed by the draconian measures taken against one of our own colleagues, Joselyn Baez, by your offices.
Due to the overcrowding and extraordinarily unpleasant conditions within our Emergency Departments, as well as assorted dysfunctions of the admissions system and primary care deficits, our EDs are extremely stressful places for both patients and providers.
Additionally, with the upsurge in mental illness and the deteriorating conditions in our communities, we are besieged with patients and visitors who often vent their frustrations on the ED staff. Daily, these feelings translate into rampant disrespect, violent speech, threats and attacks, some of which result in physical injury; all of which result in psychological trauma to varying degrees.
In August, Joselyn was the victim of such a physical attack, causing injury to her person. Physical violence is serious! When it’s not the first time, and little is done to protect us by our Employer, subsequent attacks can serve as triggers. As we said during the Pandemic, “We may be super-heroes but we are not super-human.”
When an employee is attacked, professional or otherwise, that employee immediately becomes a patient and can no longer be treated as an employee. That worker requires rescue, support and treatment. Several of the ED staff that day did offer support, but the result of the trauma was beyond our capabilities and Ms. Baez was able to obtain more appropriate support from the OHS staff, away from the area of the attack. Subsequently, the patient was placed under arrest and the case is pending under the auspices of the Bronx District Attorney’s office.
Montefiore, rather than doing a meaningful investigation into how to better protect ED staff, instead chose to scrutinize Joselyn’s reaction to the attack! Except for her union and other coworkers, no one from administration reached out to her to see how she was recovering. Instead, she was placed on leave and months later, was told she would be terminated for an “unprofessional response.” She never caused any harm to her attacker while nursing her own wounds, but was clearly hurt and angered, which is completely understandable.
ED Staff all feel like sitting ducks, subject to the whims, behaviors and exasperations of our patients and visitors. We do not feel protected. We do not feel supported. And when Montefiore chooses to add insult to injury, to fire an employee who is attacked due to the hospital’s own negligence in creating a safe work space, the old adage “An attack against one is an attack against all” comes to mind.
We call for the immediate reinstatement of Ms. Baez and immediate moves to remediate the conditions that lead to these attacks and the dangers we are all in, simply by coming to work.
Sincerely,
****P.S.: After signing this petition, it brings you to a donation page. That donation is NOT a NYSNA related donation.****
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
December 21, 2023
December 17, 2023
Seeing one hundred of my colleagues sign this in such a short time confirms that we are all feeling the same weight of this injustice. Joselyn deserves the protection our hospital has denied her and your support reminds me that we refuse to be treated as disposable.
December 17, 2023
I have been hearing from so many of you who have endured similar trauma while just trying to do your jobs. The silence from administration remains deafening but your messages are keeping me focused on what matters.
Reached 100 supporters
December 16, 2023
103 Comments
Since working through COVID we are all suffering mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We need support and safe place to work. I’m also an ED nurse and some of the same patients we risked our lives and cared for during COVID are same patients now attacking us. If we all quit, there would be no hospital period.
Montefiore needs to protect us better. We should not get assaulted while at work. Everyone respondes to violence differently. She should have been offered therapy for PTSD not fired.
Montefiore management needs to hire more nurses and staff to create safe situations for both patients and staff. There is no respect for nurses at montefiore and it is extremely disheartening. It causes moral distress and leads to severe nurse burn out.
I witnessed the incident. Baez did not provoke it. I also attempted pressing the button for security alert and it did not work.
No health care provider should have to feel threatened or scared to come to work. Montefiore needs to do more. Instead of spending money on adds and billboards , spend it on extra security or staffing. I’m disgusted On the lack of care For the employees.
Physical assault against a nurse is a felony! The healthcare industry turns a blind eye to such assaults and retaliation is their only response. Inadequate management knowledge and skills needs to be addressed instead of further victimization of the assaulted staff.
STANDING WITH MY FELLOW NURSE
Nurses are underpaid and now we’re getting physically abused
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Since working through COVID we are all suffering mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We need support and safe place to work. I’m also an ED nurse and some of the same patients we risked our lives and cared for during COVID are same patients now attacking us. If we all quit, there would be no hospital period.