Nurses demand safer working conditions at University Medical Center [Video]

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans are demanding increased safety measures to reduce workplace violence.

Hospital leaders say they have taken steps to address the issue.

On Thursday night, dozens of UMC nurses rallied in the hospital’s shadow on the corner of Canal and Galvez. The nurses waved signs saying, “Workplace violence is a daily problem.”

Terry Mogilles, a registered nurse at UMC said, “We shouldn’t expect when we come to work that there will be an incident, but every day there is an incident that we just have to shrug off.”

Mogilles works in UMC’s orthopedic clinic. She said someone recently found a gun in a hospital restroom.

“We want not only metal detectors, training for our frontline staff, we want de-escalation techniques,” Mogilles said.

Keisha Montes, an RN, said, “Patients can tell when there isn’t a lot of staff there. They may …