Seattle Children’s nurses call out workplace violence

Published by KUOW on 12/12/23 (Source)

Tuesday night, nurses who work in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit at Seattle Children's Hospital will hold a candlelight vigil.

Members of the Washington State Nurses Association say there’s been an increase in violence in the unit, and want to bring attention to the need for safer working conditions.

KUOW reporter Diana Opong talked to Soundside host Libby Denkmann about what nurses in the unit have been experiencing, and what's at the core of this issue.

"According to a statement from the Washington State Nurses Association, there have been at least 15 incidents since late September where nurses have felt unsafe, " Opong said. "Of those events, half of them occurred in November alone."


The leading voice and advocate for nurses in Washington

WSNA provides representation, education and resources that allow nurses to reach their full professional potential and focus on caring for patients. WSNA has represented nurses in our state since 1908, leveraging our collective voice to successfully advocate with employers, state agencies and the state Legislature for better working conditions, safe staffing, fair compensation and patient safety. For more than 110 years, WSNA has championed issues that support nurses, advance professional standards and improve the health of individuals and families in Washington.


The Washington State Nurses Association is affiliated with

Washington State Nurses Association
575 Andover Park West, Suite 101
Seattle, WA 98188

Contact us


Washington State Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Washington State Nurses Association, WSNA, and related logos are registered trademarks of the Washington State Nurses Association and may not be used without prior written permission.
© 2005-2026. All rights reserved. Privacy policy