Nurses at the Salem and Portland Oregon State Hospital campuses are asking lawmakers for more help with the mentally ill.
Nurses at the Salem and Portland Oregon State Hospital campuses are asking lawmakers for more help with the mentally ill.
Too few staff members has led to unacceptable levels of violence, they say.
Data from the hospital shows that in 2012, 66 patients and staff have been injured by hospital patients, as of the end of July. Fifty of those injuries were inflicted on staff.
The nursing department at the state hospital is budgeted for 990 nurses. The original state budget for 2011-13 allocated enough money for 1,065 positions, but Gov. Kitzhaber’s budget dropped it down to its current level in May 2011.
Read more at The Columbian.
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