Coping With Workplace Violence

Coping with Workplace Violence

Workplace violence is real and can be unpredictable. However, a manager can prepare his employees ahead with increased awareness, education, updating policy against the violence, and instituting preventive measures. As described in the case study, Sandra, RN was injured by an aggressive patient as she tried to defuse the situation with the other staff. Apparently, the agitated patient struck Sandra with a chair when she turned her back from him. Consequently, additional help was summoned to restrain the violent patient and treat Sandra’s injuries.

Personal Encounter

My personal experience with workplace violence happened in the critical care setting where an apprehensive visitor approached me and stated he could visit anytime he wanted. Not knowing the whole story behind his statement, I politely informed him of our visiting hours. Surprisingly, he raised his voice and declared that the supervisor assured him of open visitation. Thankfully, our charge nurse was there and firmly told him to leave. After the visitor left, we alerted the supervisor and security of the visitor’s disruptive behavior. Then, we learned that this visitor sought the house supervisor, became physically aggressive, and restrained by security officers.

The Aftermath
That brief encounter with an aggressive individual made me feel alarmed and unsafe.

Once the police officer took charge of the offender, the supervisor explained that the visitor was drunk and upset about the patient’s families restricting his visitation. Moreover, the visitor was scolded the night before by another nurse and he mistook me for that nurse. After securing the place, our charge nurse spoke with the patient’s families, informed them of the incident, and the plan to enforce visitation

restriction.
Analysis
If the same scenario happens to me again, I would silently nod and follow my intuition to distance myself from this odd behaving individual. Next, I would alert my charge nurse and security officer of his presence to avoid possible trouble. Also, I would inform the nurse and the patient related to that visitor to gather more information. With their information and cooperation, that visitor will then be restricted to visit, avoiding disruption of peace in the unit.
Workplace Policies
Papa and Venella (2013) highlighted the two million victims of workplace violence every year as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). What is more, Papa and Venella (2013) included healthcare workers, particularly emergency nurses are often victims of these violent acts. Hence, criminal punishments are advocated for offenders in several states. Additionally, with the high financial cost involved in workplace violence, Papa and Venella (2013) updated numerous organizations are also adopting the zero-tolerance policy.
Preventive Measures
Being a Magnet accredited institution, our facility promotes a healthy and safe working environment for their employees. Thus, annually, there are mandatory education and drills for employees regarding violent acts, bomb threats, and other disasters. Similar to Sullivan’s (2013) recommendations, environmental control in our facility includes proper lighting, escort services by security officers to the parking lot, bullet-resistant windows, secured doors accessible only to employees, curved mirrors in hallway, emergency call lights in the garage parking lot, and the presence of police officers as well.
Conclusion
The constant exposure of nurses to different people and highly stressed situation predispose them to risky behaviors, such as conflicts, harassment, and violence. In order to function effectively in a workplace, nurses need to feel safe, valued, and respected. To accomplish this, staff nurses rely on the manager’s knowledge, leadership skills, and use of her proper influence to solve conflicts, make a difference, and partner with the staff in preventing workplace violence.