Preventing Violence in healthcare

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Preventing Violence in Healthcare
Ever seen a nurse who is afraid to return to work? What about a nurse that comes home on crutches, has bruises, or even just comes home with an emotional break down? These are all results of workplace violence in a healthcare setting. It is a very real issue that is currently on the rise. This sort of violence can result from an angry patient, visitor, or even another nurse on a variety of units. Unfortunately, because the healthcare setting can become very hostile, nurses are always going to be at risk for violence. The only way to fight violence is to attempt to prevent it by recognizing the behavioral patterns that lead to a violent outbreak, redirect the person on the verge of a violent action, and ensure each facility has a prevention program.
In order to recognize the behavioral patterns to prevent violence, one must understand the definition of workplace violence. According to the American Nurses Association, the definition of workplace violence means any sort of verbal abuse, threatening behavior, or a physical assault occurring in the workplace (“Workplace Violence” 2013). Some of the behaviors that might be observed indicating an act of violence is about to occur are: intimidating, harassing, bullying, inappropriate or aggressive behavior, increased agitation (i.e. snappy comments), inability to be still, noncompliance with simple requests, statements of desperation, references to committing suicide, direct or indirect threats. If these signs are noticed in a patient or family member, the nurse should intervene immediately. It is important to remember that other nurses are also capable of violence and looking for their behavioral warning signs are equal...

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...ment, and ensure every facility has a prevention program.

References
Ellis, J. R., Hartley, C. L. (2012). Nursing in Today’s World: Trends, Issues, and
Management. Philidelphia, PA: Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Williams.
King, C. (2012). Managing Agitated Behaviour in Older People. Nursing Older People.
24(7), 33-36.
Rosen, J. (2013). Overview and Summary: Patient and Visitor Violence: What Do We
Know? What Can We Do? OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(1).
Trossman, S. (2010). Not ‘Part of the job’ Nurses Seek an End to Workplace Violence.
The American Nurse. 42(6), 1-6.
New York State Nurses Association. (2011, July). Violence: A Pervasive Problem for
Nurses. Retrieved from the nysna website www.nysna.org/images/pdfs/health_safety/violenceHealthcareBklt.pdf (2013). Workplace Violence. ANA: American Nurses Association, 1-2.

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