Contra Costa Nurse Was Latest Killed in the Course of Her Patient Advocacy--Nurses, Community Leaders Vow to Never Forget

(MARTINEZ)--The California Nurses Association is inviting friends, neighbors, patients, and community leaders to a special vigil this Wednesday, Nov. 10 to honor the life and bravery of RN Cynthia Palomata, who was killed by a patient she was caring for last month.  CNA will hold the vigil Wednesday in Martinez, Calif. near the Contra Costa jail where Palomata was killed.

WHAT: Nurses Hold Candlelight Vigil for Fallen Hero Cynthia Palomata, RN
WHEN: Wednesday, November 10, 6 p.m.
WHERE: 1000 Ward St., Martinez

“This tragedy makes the heart of every nurse hurt.  We know she touched so many lives.  There are no words, only hope that her friends and family and community will heal.  The RNs of California stand by Cynthia Palomata, we are inspired by her brave advocacy, and we will never forget who she was or what she meant,” said DeAnn McEwen, RN, co-President of CNA.

CNA notes that Palomata’s tragic death highlights one of the terrible problems facing the Registered Nurse profession today.  Her killing is the latest, and among the saddest, in a long pattern of violence directed towards nurses in the workplace.  CNA is working to introduce legislation with California Rep. Mary Hayashi to address this crisis, and is calling for similar legislation everywhere.  Multiple research studies have made clear that the wave of violent attacks has been occurring for many years to many nurses throughout the country.  In one 2002 study, for example, 82 percent of nurses in emergency departments indicated that they had been physically assaulted during the past year, while a 2004 study of Massachusetts nurses found more than 50 percent had been punched in the previous two years.