CLEVELAND — Samantha Shultz worked as a patient care nursing assistant, or PCNA, for about a year at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital.
"I think that there's a big misconception, especially in Lutheran, that the caregivers matter," she says.
According to Shultz, she was attacked by patients more than once.
"She grabbed me by my throat and she pushed me against the wall," she recalled of one woman. "She kept choking me and scratching me down my throat as I was yelling for help."
That happened in June, and Shultz says the hospital gave her the runaround for filing a workers compensation claim. She ended up quitting in late August.
According to NursingWorld.org, one in every four nurses is assaulted on the job, and they are at a higher risk for violence in the workplace due to their close proximity to patients. However, Shultz says it's the way Lutheran Hospital management handles the issue.
"They don't care," Shultz declared.
Other workers who spoke to 3News off camera, because they were worried about losing their job, shared a similar sentiment. They claim they were expected to keep working or go back to work even after being sent to the ER because of patient attacks, and are frustrated that their safety isn't being prioritized.
"I had called my doctor's office at the Cleveland Clinic at work to ask them, because I was originally told that they would have to hold a position for me in some way shape or form or I'd have to be compensated," Shultz said. "And they asked me right off the bat, 'Is this Lutheran? Do you work at Lutheran?' And I said' Yeah,' and they said, 'Yeah, Lutheran follows their own rules. They don't play by the book. They do whatever they want.'"
3News reached out to Cleveland Clinic for reaction and received the following statement:
"The safety and well-being of our caregivers, patients and their families is our top priority. Workplace violence is never acceptable, and we do not tolerate any form of threatening or aggressive behavior toward our caregiver team.
"When an incident is reported, it is immediately addressed and thoroughly reviewed. This includes offering medical care to the caregiver as well as advocacy and support resources. Caregivers are also encouraged to file a police report.
"Violence against healthcare workers is an epidemic within health systems across the country. We greatly appreciate the dedication of our caregivers who provide care for our patients, often during a vulnerable time in a patient's life.
"We remain committed to reducing and preventing workplace violence in order to create the safest environment to both provide and receive care."