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Stop Healthcare Violence

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You are here: Home / News and Updates

News and Updates

Sheila Wilson Receives Award for Unsung Heroines
Sheila Wilson, President of Stop Healthcare Violence, receives her Unsung Heroine nomination.

Sheila Wilson Honored as One of Massachusetts’ Unsung Heroines: Women who don’t always make the news, but truly make the difference.

Massachusetts’ Unsung Heroines are women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and communities.

These are women who use their time, talent, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others and make a difference in their neighborhoods, cities, and towns. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who do what needs to be done, without expectations of recognition or gratitude. These women are the glue that keeps a community together and every community has them.

Being invited to the sixteenth annual Unsung Heroines celebration was such an honor. I was nominated by State Representative Bruce Ayers and Legislative Director Sean Costello. Sitting in the Great Hall room at the State House, surrounded by 133 other women receiving the Unsung Heroines award, was powerful. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women sang our praises, they showed each and every one of us that we make a difference and we are valued for our efforts and contributions.”
-Sheila Wilson, RN, BSN, MPH

To read more about the Unsung Heroine Awards, click here.

This great-grandmother wants to end ‘the dirty little secret of nursing’.
Sheila Wilson feels blessed to have what she considers the best career in the world: nursing. At 73, she has no plans to retire and is still doing per diem jobs. But over the decades, the Quincy native, who has worked in hospitals, clinics, and shelters, has witnessed what she calls “the dirty little secret of nursing.” It’s workplace violence against healthcare providers, which studies show has spiked in the past decade.
Read more
Felony Legislation
In most states, it is a felony to assault a healthcare worker, but not in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts legislation strengthening penalties has been filed, and we need your support!
Read more

Spring into summer Health Fair-featured6/23/19
Thank you to all who participated in and attended our Spring into Summer Health Fair at X1 Boston. This fun, family-friendly event was a huge success!

6/18/19
Sheila Wilson Honored as One of Massachusetts’ Unsung Heroines: Women who don’t always make the news, but truly make the difference. Massachusetts’ Unsung Heroines are women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and communities. These are women who use their time, talent, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others and make a difference in their neighborhoods, cities, and towns. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who do what needs to be done, without expectations of recognition or gratitude. These women are the glue that keeps a community together and every community has them.
Read more

4/30/19
Liz Dalton, RN, Testifies Before Judiciary Committee: On April 30, 2019, Stop Healthcare Violence Board Member Elizabeth Dalton, RN, BSN, spoke before the Judiciary Committee on workplace violence, and in support of Senate Bill #838/House Bill #1578, “An act Strengthening the penalty for assault or assault and Battery on an Emergency Medical Technician ,Ambulance operator, Ambulance Attendant or Health Care Provider.”

1/27/19
New Legislation: Stop Healthcare Violence is lobbying once again for Massachusetts legislation to strengthen the penalty for assault or assault and battery on an emergency medical technician, ambulance operator, ambulance attendant or healthcare provider. Docket Number 3466 will soon have a House Bill number
Read more

4/13/18
End Healthcare Violence by Taking Action as a Nurse!  Podcast Interview with Elizabeth Scala on Your Next Shift. Hear the podcast

7/7/17
The Boston Globe: This great-grandmother wants to end ‘the dirty little secret of nursing’
Sheila Wilson feels blessed to have what she considers the best career in the world: nursing. At 73, she has no plans to retire and is still doing per diem jobs.But over the decades, the Quincy native, who has worked in hospitals, clinics, and shelters, has witnessed what she calls “the dirty little secret of nursing.” It’s workplace violence against healthcare providers, which studies show has spiked in the past decade. Wilson, who co-founded Stop Healthcare Violence, a nonproft aimed at providing a safe workplace for providers, has been lobbying the Legislature to strengthen penalties. The pending bill would make Massachusetts the 34th state to increase penalties for assaults on healthcare workers, from misdemeanors to felonies.
Read more

6/21/17
Fox 25 News: Nurses push for stronger penalties after stabbing at Southbridge hospital
Following the serious stabbing of a nurse in a Southbridge, Massachusetts, ER, other nurses around the state are asking for tougher penalties. “Over a 22 year career, I’ve been pushed to the floor, my finger broke, scratched, bitten,” said Bee Potter, state president of the Emergency Nurses Association. The Mass Emergency Nurses Association polled its local members and asked, “in the last five days have you been verbally or physically assaulted?” More than 50 percent said yes. Article and video

5/10/17
Our Ebook Now Available in Paperback!
Get the book or ebook  from any of these retailers – you can even get a sneak preview!

2/5/17
The E-Book You Can’t Afford NOT To Read
Healthcare workers: Do you want to learn to identify potentially dangerous situations, protect and advocate for yourself, understand that being a victim of violence is NOT in your job description, and find out what employers and administrators can and should do to keep you safe? This is is all in my brand new e-book: The Shocking Reality of Violence in Healthcare, And What We Can Do About It. Read more

1/17/17
Yes! Partnering with the Massachusetts Nurses Association
From Donna Kelly-Williams, president of Massachusetts Nurses Association: Health care professionals are being assaulted at a rate four times the national average. Fear of violence and actual violence is rampant in Massachusetts health care facilities. It is clear the laws we have in place are not enough to stop the violence…The Massachusetts Nurses Association is proud to partner with Sheila Wilson, co-founder of Stop Healthcare Violence, and the Massachusetts Emergency Nurse Association, in our effort to improve the safety of every health care facility in the Commonwealth. Read more



10/2/17
Let’s Discuss Solutions: Open Forum with Sheila Wilson and Security Expert Mark Dutra
Sheila Wilson, RN, BSN, MPH and President of Stop Healthcare Violence, along with guest speaker Mark Dutra, Director of Security, will discuss the Increase in assaults on healthcare workers, the causes, and solutions. Sheila Wilson, RN, BSN, MPH, will describe the mission and goals of Stop Healthcare Violence, and touch on Massachusetts legislation (House Bill 795 and Senate Bill 765), geared toward mitigating attacks on healthcare workers.Mark Dutra will discuss one of his many techniques in the role as security. One of Mark’s primary professional focuses throughout his career has been developing and implementing effective empathic crisis intervention mitigation techniques. There will be time available for Q&A after the speakers’ presentations.
Date: October 2, 2017
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Location: Thompas Crane Library
Address: 40 Washington Street, Quincy, Massachusetts directions
More details

7/6/17
Take Action: Massachusetts Legislation Call-In Day
We need your help in protecting MA healthcare workers by participating in the Massachusetts Call-In Day on Monday, July 10th. Contact your Massachusetts State Legislators urging them to Protect Healthcare Workers in Massachusetts. The MA Joint Committee on the Judiciary will be holding a hearing on Tuesday, July 11th to review healthcare reform bills H795 and S765 that would prosecute assault on emergency medical technician, ambulance operator, ambulance attendant or health care provider as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. Read more

6/21/17
More Violence, Just Another Day at Work
Another day at work; another shocking incident of brutality. When does the violence stop in the healthcare industry? Just this month another case of workplace violence ensued when an emergency room nurse at Harrington Hospital, Southbridge, MA was stabbed by a patient. Assault in all forms – being punched, bitten, spit upon, groped, jumped on from behind, knocked unconscious and attacked with weapons are common day occurrences for healthcare professionals. Read more

4/17/17
The Way It Is… and The Way It Should Be
From our blog: Many people have asked for clarification about misdemeanor penalties versus felony penalties when it comes to assault on healthcare workers. I’ve put together a simple primer that I hope will clear this up… Read more

1/26/17
OK: Let’s Roll
From our blog: Ok, my fellow supporters, colleagues and friends; it is time. Many of you have cheered me on over the last eight years since the inception of Stop Healthcare Violence; particularly as I and some of my associates lobbied endlessly and tirelessly for the passage of felony legislation. Now it is time for action. I need you to do something for me; it’s not a difficult thing and it won’t take much, but it could lead to be something significant and could have a major impact on healthcare safety… Read more

Sheila Wilson receives ENA's Behind the Scenes award
Sheila Wilson receives ENA’s Behind the Scenes award at ENA’s 11/9/16 conference.

11/9/16
Award from Massachusetts Emergency Nurses Association
Sheila Wilson was honored by the Massachusetts ENA at its 11/9/16 conference with ENA’s “Behind The Scenes” award for Sheila’s efforts on the issues of healthcare violence.

10/1/16
Speaking with Occupational Health Connections
Sheila Wilson Sheila Wilson spoke with Occupational Health Connections’ founder and staff at a luncheon hosted by OHC founder Nancy Clover, RN, COHN-S, at the East Street Grill in Methuen, Massachusetts. Sheila discussed healthcare violence and the need to change Massachusetts law for assault on healthcare workers from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Sheila Wilson and Rep Bruce Ayers
Sheila Wilson with Rep. Bruce Ayers’ summer 2016 reception
Sheila Wilson with Sean Costello
Sheila Wilson with State Aide Sean Costello summer 2016 reception

August 2016
Summer Reception with Rep Bruce Ayers and Aide Sean Costello
Sheila Wilson attended the summer reception for State Massachusetts State Rep. Bruce Ayers, Sheila spoke briefly about HB #1164 being refiled in January 2017 with Rep Ayers, a Bill that would change the MA. law from a misdemeanor to a felony. Also in attendance was Rep Ayers’ aide Sean Costello, legislative director at the House of representatives. Sean is also on the school committee member of the town of Marshfield.

6/2/16
Appearance at Boston Health Fair
Sheila Wilson and Board member Jeanne White attended a health fair at JFK Federal Building in Boston.  They passed out brochures and information on healthcare violence, and Sheila spoke to many attendees on the subject.

8/1/16
Presentation on Workplace Violence
Board member Mark Dutra was a Keynote Speaker on Workplace Violence at the MHA Conference Center in Burlington, a workplace Safety Summit that discussed the issues surrounding workplace violence.

Mark Phillips Legislative Director to State Rep. Thomas M. Stanley, Sheila Wilson
with Mark Phillips, Legislative Director to State Rep Thomas M. Stanley
Sheila Wilson, RN BSN, with State Rep and Legislative Aide
Sean Costello legislative Director to State Rep Bruce Ayers; Sheila Wilson; Rep. Ayers; Lorraine Brennan, RN BSN; Sheryl Williams, RN BSN; Jeanne White.

5/3/16
Meetings at the State House
Meetings at the State House with representatives and their legislative directors. We had some discussions and distributed our information on House Bill #1164 that is currently in study.

3/26/16
WBZ Business Breakfast and Safety at Work
From our blog: “On March 24, 2016 I attended WBZ’s Business Breakfast, where the topic was Safety at Work – Maintaining a Safe and Secure Workplace. At the venue I met Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. We spoke briefly about the healthcare violence and House Bill #1164 that has been sent to study….” Read more

3/16/16
House Bill 1164: Stalled in Congress
From our blog: “It is with some dismay that I convey House Bill #1164 has been sent to study…The news was communicated to me on 3/16/16 by Legislative Director Sean Costello…I am disappointed by this development, but I haven’t lost my fight. And Mr. Costello assures me the Bill will be re-filed next session…” Read more

Sheila Wilson and Bruce Ayers
Sheila Wilson with Mass Rep Bruce Ayers

8/5/15
Sheila Wilson attends Massachusetts Representative Bruce Ayers’ Summer Reception
and spoke about HB #1164 with State Representative Bruce Ayers and Legislative Director Sean Costello.

7/14/15
Sheila Wilson speaks in front of the Massachusetts Judiciary Committee
discussing HB #1164, and the critical need for felony law.

Sheila with Senator William Brownsberger and Ann Landry
Sheila with Senator William Brownsberger and Ann Landry

March 2015
Sheila Wilson meets with Senator William Brownsberger and Ann Landry Massachusetts State House
regarding HB #1164.

Sheila with Sean Costello of Rep Bruce Ayers office
Sheila with Sean Costello of Rep Bruce Ayers office

January 2015
Sheila Wilson goes to the Massachusetts State House to meet with with Sean Costello of Massachusetts Rep Bruce Ayers’ office,
lobbying for HB #1164, stiffening the penalties for those convicted of assault on healthcare workers by changing it from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Governor Patrick signs bill into law
Governor Patrick signs HB 1969 into law. Sheila Wilson 4th from right.

7/2/2010
Massachusetts Governor Patrick Signs Bill to Stiffen Penalties for Those Who Assault Nurses and Other Health Care Providers
Governor Patrick signed the bill into law at a signing ceremony in the Governor’s office at the State House.
The new law stiffens penalties for those who assault nurses and other health care workers, and is in response to an increase in workplace violence against nurses and other caregivers. Read more

March 2010
Certification in R.A.D. Basic Physical Defense
Stop Healthcare Violence founders become certified by Rape, Aggression & Defense Systems in Basic Physical Defense, completing up to 12 hours of training led by the Boston Police Department.
The cornerstone of R.A.D. Systems, R.A.D. Basic Physical Defense course has its foundations in education and awareness. The course includes lecture, discussion and self defense techniques.

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