Reducing Workplace Violence

Workplace violence occurs due to an interpersonal conflict between two or more people that results from differences in their needs, ideas, goals, interests, or values (Marquis and Huston, 2015). Workplace violence is not limited to physical violence; it also includes negative activities such as bulling, verbal abuse, pranking, negative insinuations, gossiping, insubordination, and withholding information (Latham, Ringl, & Hogan, 2013). Research suggests that more than 80 % nurses experience workplace violence at some point in their working careers (Frederick, 2014). New graduate nurses are especially susceptible to workplace violence because they are usually unprepared to deal with it, and they are more likely to leave the profession due to workplace violence (Frederick, 2014). Townsend (2012) reported that 70 % of nurses, who experienced bullying at the workplace, leave their jobs, and 60 % of new graduate nurses quit their jobs within first six months of being bullied (as cited in Marquis & Huston, 2015). Workplace violence is an important leadership issue to address because it affects turnover rates, productivity, patient safety, and overall quality of care (Marquis & Huston, 2015).

A lot of companies today are committed towards building an environment that is conducive to all its employees to work in. They say that the success of a workplace violence and horseplay prevention program depends to a large extent on the executive committee set up to establish and oversee the programs. The group's duties are to formulate policies that define workplace violence, and to determine consequences and punishments. This is in their struggle to make sure that they maximize resources and that the company heads towards its set goals. Such an environment can only be achieved by get rid of all forms of violence and horseplay in the work place. This is because such vices only eat in to a lot of the employee’s time and create bad relationships

Developing a plan of action to defuse an individual immediately upon hearing about the violent behaviors. Zero Tolerance policy is key in prohibiting any kind of violence or threat and to advise termination for any acts of violence. Employees need to be notified of the policy and employers should make sure that they review the policy and sign to acknowledge it. Training should also be implemented in order to teach supervisors and employees in detection, reporting, and prevention of workplace violence. “It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in employees for preventing violence, and teach them to recognize the signs of potential or actual violence and to take appropriate action such as defusing or reporting it” (http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/labor_law/meetings/2008/ac2008/056.authcheckdam.pdf). Threat assessment team is another option in decreasing workplace violence by including an individual from human resources, security, EEO, decision-makers management, and unions. The team evaluates the risk of an individual, implement a confidential reporting center for complaints of workplace violence, and encourage employees to report incidents.

Safety is an important factor and is a high priority in healthcare. Kelly, Fenwick, Brekke, and Novaco (2015) shared that workplace violence impairs the staff perceptions of safety. However, both patients and staff are affected by workplace violence in many ways, from physical to emotional aspects. There are many reasons why violence occurs, that will be explained later in this paper. The purpose of this paper is to explain the reason and importance of the chosen phenomenon of interest. Moreover, primary and opposing philosophic viewpoints will be discussed, as well as ways of recognizing and utilizing them in nursing. The ways of knowing patterns in nursing and the utilization of these patterns will be explained, pertaining to nursing care.

Kvas and Seljak (2015) found that establishing a violence-free workplace is essential, and is an on-going process that every organization must be on board with. Kvas and Seljak (2015) went on to say that leaders in a health care organization play an important role in violence prevention, and serve as role models that should never tolerate incivility, bullying, or workplace violence. However, managers and other health care leaders are often the perpetrators of violence, and must be held accountable for their actions (Kvas & Seljak, 2015). Not only that, but physicians are a major contributor to physical and mental abuse, and must also be held liable. With that in mind, there are many ways nurses can prevent violence from occurring in the

Many parents rear their children in treating others in the way they want to be treated, such as kind, caring, and respected. Consequently, like their parents, these children are passive toward the negative behavior, which are the bullies’ main victim prospect. Torturing others is no longer the American way of life, which is the constitution fourteenth amendment; therefore jobs and institutions need to be accountable in respecting the rights of others. Consequently, we need a behavioral management change, which calls for the CEO’s attention in reinforcing their policy toward bosses who neglect it and punishing them for it, as well as their followers. The employees who follow the policy need to be awarded. It would reinforce the bullies to want to change their behavior. The bystanders need to get involved as well by supporting the victims in the bullies

Civility in the work place, or the lack thereof, has been identified as a growing problem within many professions in today’s society. Often referred to as lateral violence, this occurrence is no exception in the nursing profession. It is also known as ‘horizontal violence’ or ‘workplace bullying (Coursey, Rodriguez, Dieckmann, & Austin, 2013). In this evidenced-based paper, information will be provided in an effort to identify causes of lateral violence in the workplace and how to encourage civility.

Several models and concepts arose in preventative measures to workplace violence in nursing. One conceptual model, according to Covert Crime at Work, is “a conceptual model derived from 370 surveys show working conditions conducive to bullying, thus helping to identify risks early and to prevent unhealthy environments from developing.” After recognition of these research and studies, organizations such as Occupations Safety and Hazard Association, American Nurses Associations, and etc, have implemented guidelines to prevent workplace violence in nursing.

Employees should have the right to feel safe in their work environment and to be free from workplace bullying. Employers need to be held accountable and have a plan in place to protect the employees from this type of violence. Barbara McCulloch is a mediator who has developed a process of mediation to address the complicated issues of bullying behavior in the workplace (McCulloch, 2010). Barbara suggests that

Workplace violence has existed throughout history. However, historical documentation of workplace violence is vague and sometimes non-existent. Documented workplace violence is believed to have existed during the Roman Empire, the Renaissance Era, and it continues today. It seems unfortunate, but as long as a “society” exists, workplace violence will more than likely exist. Therefore, employers must understand: the history of workplace violence, the effects it has on the organization, the reasons why it occurs, the warning signs, and ways to prevent it from occurring. Most importantly, it is the responsibility of the Manager, to not only understand workplace violence, but to ensure that all employees

“The first step in teaching nurses how to decrease bullying by others is to help them understand what to do and what not to do when confronted by a bully” (Rocker, 2008, Education, para. 13). Nurses need to be aware of how to recognize horizontal violence, and how to be able to stop it. Furthermore, Baltimore (2006) explained that nurses need to try and resist the temptation of participating in gossip which could ultimately result in people losing respect for nurses (p. 35). Nurses also need to be respectful and value differences among other nurses. Each nurse is unique and may have different ways of implementing his/her type of care. Therefore, it is crucial that nurses respect these differences (Rocker, 2008, Policy, para. 14). If nurses are able to be consciously aware of these small things, it can make a huge difference on how they treat other coworkers, and how others view them. Not only is it important for nurses to understand what horizontal violence is, but managers of hospitals need to be well educated of this as well. Brunt (2011) stated that managers have a key role in preventing and altering horizontal violence in the workforce. It is important that managers create an environment where staff members feel comfortable coming to the managers with concerns. Managers need to be educated about how to deal with the negativity of horizontal violence (p. 7). Managers can improve relationships, trust, and productivity and reduce tension by

Workplace violence most often involves aggressive behavior towards peers, subordinates, supervisors, and other members of the workforce. This can range from verbal abuse to physical violence. Aggression may occur as a response to many situations. Common examples are when individuals face the loss of a job, are passed over for promotion, or perceive favoritism toward others in the work environment.

Workplace violence is a serious and growing issue in society. Employers need to develop intervention strategies to decrease reduce violence in the workplace. Also, employers and employees need to be aware of the signs when people exhibit behaviors that can lead to workplace violence. As a society, the issue needs to be acknowledged of the reality and work together for creating a solution. Lastly, employers and employees must not live in fear of addressing concerns if they see the potential for workplace violence or report when they witness or experience workplace violence.

We can do more to deter workplace violence. Going onward, I urge that you take the time and study the Canadian Labor Report Handbook Guide to Violence Prevention in the Workplace at http://www.labour.gc.ca/eng/health_safety/pubs_hs/workplace.shtml and also consider technical assistance, consultation from no-cost government services or SHRM resources so that we remain up-to-date on and adopt current best practices for workplace violence prevention and implement a policy.

Hatred in the work environment breeds various issues for workers. For example, representatives working in a negative situation will probably discover issues with confidence and low profitability. Also, a negative work environment can prompt high representative turnover rates. To build energy in the work environment, workers must to make a positive workplace and do what it takes to maintain and cultivate this culture. According to Yoder-wise (2011), “the definition of violence includes overt and covert behavior ranging from offensive threatening language to homicide” (Yoder Wise, 2011, p.498). Violence can be noted as the general term that represents lateral aggression,