I was stunned by the letters from the nursing students who were alarmed by the statement from the American Organization of Nurse Executives' former president saying the nurse has a "responsibility to report abuse and to learn how to deal with it" (Letters, June, responding to AJN Reports, February). As a student I have seen that patients are not always willing, and nurses must face the potential for violence head-on. In my nursing program, we have been instructed on how to protect ourselves from injury while getting help. But our job is not just to protect ourselves; it is to protect all in the health care setting.

Lori Tedesco

Pittsburgh, PA