Posted on 02/15/2012 5:29:18 PM PST by SmithL
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A state lawmaker with a history of impassioned speeches was at it again at the Capitol. This time, Sen. Ophelia Ford, D-Memphis, wanted to talk about nurses and her experiences in the hospital.
Sen. Ford reacted during a senate committee meeting Tuesday night over a proposal that would increase penalties for assaults on healthcare workers.
The Memphis lawmaker talked about her own experience during two separate hospitalizations in recent years.
"I cannot tell you the horrific experience that I had, and it was nurses who were mainly doing these things to me," she said.
The bill in question deals with whether or not to increase the punishment for assaulting a healthcare worker.
Sen. Ford spoke for nearly 20 minutes and had to be cut off.
"I would not be in your presence today because of mean, hateful nurses," she said.
She told Channel 4 she disagreed that nurses should get any special treatment when it comes to assault laws.
"I certainly didn't want to bring out personal issues, but it's not just personal. I'm very knowledgeable about healthcare," Ford said.
But she says her experience with nurses is not a reflection on what she thinks about the profession as a whole.
"This is not to say it is all nurses, absolutely not. Absolutely not, and those who know they are good nurses don't have anything to fear," Ford said.
Despite Sen. Ford's desperate plea Tuesday, the committee voted to advance the bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsmv.com ...
My wife is an RN in middle TN. I’m sure the nurses just recognized her and treated her accordingly.
Stars...Stars! IT’S FULL OF STARS!
However, this woman is full of sh**. I have been in the hospital twice over the last several years and I am here to tell you that the vast majority of nurses are the reason I survived the ordeal. Nurses took care of me, not doctors and all but one were great. The one that wasn't great was so politically correct that it was ridiculous.
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