Nurse sucker-punched in face at Coquitlam psychiatric hospital

An attackon anurse, who was sucker-punched in the face by a patient at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, is the latest in a series ofassaultsat theCoquitlamfacilityaccording the the B.C. Nurses Union.

"It was a totally unprovoked attack," saysBCNUpresident GayleDuteil. "The nurse was trying to provide care, trying to de-escalate a situation between twopatients and he was sucker-punched and knocked to the ground."

The incident took place Monday.The nurse was treated at emergency,and remains off work.TheRCMPwasnotified and charges are being considered.

Duteilsays in September there were 13 assaults on staff at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, and says that management is not doing enough to ensure the safety of its employees.

"The challenge is that this is a forensics tertiary psychiatric hospital, and I used the word 'hospital' really with regret, saidDuteil. "This is where criminals go to be psychiatrically assessed. This is where individuals, who are deemed criminally not responsible, live. So this is an extremely dangerous place."

Last December the hospital was fined $75,000 by WorkSafeBCafter a report into three separateincidents,including the stabbing of an occupational therapist by a patient involvedin a 'therapeutic cooking' exercise.

The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital was one of four facilities in the province targeted with additional funding announced earlier this year to help improve safety,butDuteilsaysit needs to add securitystaff inside the hospital.

"The security officers tend to thefrontdoor of the facility," she said. "[They] are nowhere tobe found. They're at the end of a long series of hallways, not on the units where the nurses work."

Angela Draude, provincialexecutive director of theForensic Psychiatric Services Commission, says she will consult with nurses but claims putting security staff in the hopsital units could be counter-productive.

"Evidence indicates strongly that the presence of uniformed officers in a challenging and complex population can actually trigger negative responses by our patients," Draudetold CBC.

Draude, who has a background in nursing and in federal corrections, mostrecently as warden forthe Edmonton Institution for Women,took over the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission last month. She is the fifthperson to hold the position since 2008.

Duteil says the constant turnover and change in managementhas made it difficult for nurses to be heard.

"Now they're engaging ex-wardens as executive director of this place," said Duteil. "That tells you the circumstances."