Oregon Public Broadcasting took on the issue of understaffing and violence in the workplace at Oregon State Hospital on its "Think Out Loud" program Sept. 25.

Oregon AFSCME Local 3295 Vice President Faith Faddis was OPB's in-studio guest. Local 3295 represents about 300 registered nurses at OSH. Faddis works at the hospital's small Portland campus.

Faddis explained how back-up personnel are rarely available when patients turn violent, and detailed how the state's stringent abuse laws make nurses hesitant to take necessary action when patients spin out of control.

OSH Superintendent Greg Roberts, who joined the program by phone, said the hospital does have enough nursing staff, yet acknowledged that nonetheless, there isn't always the right amount of people working on each shift. Faddis was frustrated by Roberts' contention, which contradicted information he gave the local ahead of legislative visits earlier this month.

Attorney Bob Joondeph, a patients' rights advocate well known for his fundamental anti-institution stance, said by phone that nurses and other staff would not need to use seclusion rooms and personal restraints "if they were trained correctly." Faddis countered that nursing staff "never wants to use seclusion or restraints, but there are clients who often leave us no other choice."

She also noted that such incidents not only impacts the patient acting out and a disproportionate number of staff, but therefore also robs the other clients of the active treatment they should be receiving.

You can listen to the entire interview on an OPB podcast.