Kifowit Hosts Roundtable on Measure to Protect Nurses from Workplace Violence

AURORA, Ill. – To receive input from all groups on legislation to protect nurses from workplace violence, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, conducted a roundtable discussion with over a dozen representatives of relevant state departments and healthcare groups to discuss amendatory proposals to her pending legislation, House Bill 4100.

“It is important to include all potentially affected groups so that they can provide suggestions and recommendations,” Kifowit said. “Our goal is to create the best bill possible to ensure that when enacted into law, it takes effect as intended and provides for protections for nurses and healthcare workers. They provide treatment for everyone placed under their care, so they deserve us to do everything possible to ensure their safety.”

House Bill 4100 aims to protect nurses and healthcare workers from incidents of workplace violence and prevent retaliation in the event of filing a complaint following when such an incident takes place. Organizations party to the recent meeting included the IL Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, Illinois Nurses Association, Illinois Health and Hospital Association, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and the Illinois State Medical Society, among others. All the groups generally agreed of the need to address the issue of preventing workplace violence against healthcare professionals and the overarching goals of HB4100. Continued discussion on how to best amend the bill as currently written is needed, but the concerned parties are optimistic on a final outcome that will help to protect nurses in the future.

“The discussion was informative and productive,” said Alice Johnson, Executive Director of the Illinois Nurses Association, who participated in the roundtable. “We appreciate Rep. Kifowit bringing stakeholders together to discuss HB 4100. We look forward to passing a bill into law that will protect Registered Nurses, Advanced Practice Nurses and other healthcare workers from workplace violence.”