Nurse releases tell-all book detailing dangerous incidents and culture of secrecy
A former nurse manager at a New Brunswick hospital is calling for collective action to put in place preventive measures against violence against nurses and other healthcare workers.
"We must collectively declare that it is an occupational hazard," said Natasha Poirier, a nurse manager at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, in her recently released book titled Unsure: Bearing Witness to Justice.
"The time to say 'Enough is Enough!!!' has arrived."
Poirier fell victim to an assault five years five years ago. On March 11, 2019, she was attacked by Bruce (Randy) Van Horlick, the husband of a patient, who wanted his wife moved to a quieter room.
Van Horlick pulled Poirier from her chair by her hair, punched her on the temple, threw her against a wall, twisted her arm and several fingers backward, according to a CBC report.
Van Horlick also assaulted another nurse, Teresa Thibeault, who tried to intervene.
The attack lasted 11 minutes, according to the report.
In September 2022, Van Horlick walked out of court after serving six months in prison for assaulting the two nurses. He also admitted that he could “snap again”.
Poirier wasn't able to return to work after the assault. She sued Van Horlick who now owes her $1.3 million. That money, however, remains unpaid.
Violence and ‘code of silence’ among healthcare workers
Poirier suffered two previous workplace assaults during her 25-year career. One time, she was kicked in the stomach by a patient when she was eight months pregnant, she said, according to the CBC report.
She has also witnessed colleagues being pushed, spat upon, threatened, and having urine and feces thrown at them. However, few speak out, she said.
"There's an unspoken rule, the 'code of silence,' I would call it, and the fear of retaliation, or the fear of losing their jobs, the fear of being blamed, judged, the fear of being seen as weak, and the guilt and shame — kind of all those factors silence the healthcare workers, I believe.
She hopes releasing her book can help change the narrative.
"If my voice can help, or can shed light on the silence surrounding violence, then perhaps this might be my future … contribution."
Healthcare workers have been calling for action against the escalating violence against them.
