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National Nurses United wants lawmakers to force all hospitals to implement policies that protect healthcare workers from violence.

The union calls violence towards nurses in hospitals an epidemic.

Louise Eastty works as a nurse in the intensive care unit of a Pasco County hospital.

She has witnessed coworkers sent to the emergency room because a patient or a patient’s relative assaults them. 

"We are just here to say it's not OK,” she said. “We are here to help. We are here to heal. We are not here to be hurt." 

Members of  National Nurses United protested on Tuesday and called for Florida lawmakers to help stop the increasing number of assaults aimed at nurses on the job.

The union says 76 percent of nurses report that they have been victims of workplace violence. 

Brooksville intensive care nurse Kim Scott is one.

"I have been hit, pushed, maybe kicked once,” she said. “Had my hair pulled. Had things grabbed from me."

She said it comes from the increasing number of patients with mental illness. She added it also comes from family members of patients.

"They may have lost someone,” she said. “They may want someone to be doing more than what they are doing. They are frustrated. The nurse is the one they see first. The nurse is at the bedside."

Nurses said some hospitals in Tampa Bay don't have “No Weapons" signs posted.

Other hospitals, they said, don't have a policy when a patient or family gets violent.

The union representative said they are drafting the bill now, but need a lawmaker to sponsor it. 

Until that happens, nurses want to raise awareness of this growing problem.

Source: ABC News