Assaults against staff surge at Minnesota hospitals: 'It seems like it's inevitable'

Nov 10, 20220

Shari L. Gross, Star Tribune count

Mary Turner, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, spoke at a rally outside U.S. Bank headquarters in Minneapolis on Nov. 2, demanding that bank executives on hospital boards do more to address rising workplace violence.

Nurse Ben Spencer heard the plea from across the hospital unit - "We need Ben!" - and hustled to a room where an angry patient punched him in the face.

The former footballer dodged the patient's next lunge and tackled him, feeling conflicted about fighting a patient while protecting coworkers.

"To be put in a position like this, it's tough," said Spencer, who suffered a concussion from the punch and missed two weeks of work.

https://www.startribune.com/violence-related-injuries-surge-in-minnesota-hospitals/600223808/