Preventing Gun Injuries and Deaths is a Professional Responsibility

Abstract

Events like the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, on February 14 and the courageous response of many students and parents saying “enough is enough!” can bring important issues into the public spotlight. However, every life that has been lost—whether through suicide, homicide, or accident—is of value and a tragedy. Death from guns has been going on far too long in this country and increasing in recent years: 1.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2016.1CDC. (2017). Gun mortality by state: 2016. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/firearm_mortality/firearm.htm accessed 3.10.18.Google Scholar Homicides from gun violence are 25 times higher in the U.S. than in any other high-income country.2Fox, C. (2017). How US gun culture compares with the world in five charts. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/03/americas/us-gun-statistics/index.html accessed 3.10.18.Google Scholar As nurse practitioners (NPs) we can focus on the health impacts that are a result of guns, whether from hunting or sporting accidents, unintended access by children, or violent use in anger or rage. Gun injuries and death are a health issue in so many ways, including but not limited to the actual violence that is perpetrated with guns, the fear that guns invoke, the trauma of the incident, and the posttraumatic after effects. Most if not all of these consequences are preventable. NPs can act individually in our practice and organizationally to both protect and impact policies to improve safety. Back in 2011, when I was living and practicing in Florida, the state legislature voted to restrict health care providers from inquiring about firearms or ammunition in the home of a patient.3Waldrop, J. (2011). Florida gun law interferes with patient relationships. September 14. Available at: http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/florida-gun-law-interferes-with-patient-relationships/article/211972/ accessed 3.7.18.Google Scholar Before this happened, I never thought that my ability to speak openly, honestly, and confidentially with my patients could be restricted. but it was and still is possible. Thankfully, enforcement of this bill was prevented by an injunction a couple of months after it was signed into law and struck down just last year by a federal court of appeals.4Rebecca Hersher (2017). Court strikes down Florida law barring doctors from discussing guns with patients. National Public Radio https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/17/515764335/court-strikes-down-florida-law-barring-doctors-from-discussing-guns-with-patient accessed 3.8.18.Google Scholar The right to ask questions about potential dangers to the health and safety of our patients is a fundamental prerequisite of providing individualized and appropriate guidance on health and well-being to our patients and their families. This is a right we must remain vigilant to protect. NPs are also nurses and part of the largest group of health care providers in the nation. We are stronger together, and if we used our sheer numbers to impact policy to improve the health and safety of our patients, we would be unstoppable. The American Academy of Nursing responded quickly after the Parkland shooting with a call for action to our leaders in the House and Senate, recommending that a National Commission on Mass Shootings be tasked with identifying strategies to address 7 significant pathways to increase safety related to guns, including “ensuring that health care professionals are unencumbered and fully permitted to fulfill their role in preventing firearm injuries by health screening, patient counseling, and referral to mental health services for those with high risk danger behaviors.” Since then the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and 95 other nursing organizations have signed on.5American Academy of Nursing (2018). American Academy of Nursing and 96 organizations deliver letter to congress calling for bipartisan national commission on mass shooting. https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/AANNET/c8a8da9e-918c-4dae-b0c6-6d630c46007f/UploadedImages/docs/Press%20Releases/2018/PR-2018_Cosign_Letter_to_Congress_on_Mass_Shooting_Commission-cgs4.pdf Accessed on 3.8.18.Google Scholar Whatever your personal interpretation of the Second Amendment, as NPs we must continue to fight for our patients’ health and safety while providing direct patient care and within our organizations and never let our voice be silenced.