Violence Against Student Nurses and Newly Registered Nurses

Excellent discussion on workplace violence in the health care setting. When this writer finished nursing school approximately nine years ago, the thought of being assaulted or abused by the patient or family member did not cross this writer mind. Most people think of nurses as being the most nurturing, caring indivdiual, whom assist the patient with restoring their health. Society has shifted in a direction within the current health care industry and there is not a level of respect being demonstrated towards the health care professional. This can create a barrier with building a therapeutic and effective nurse to patient relationship. When this wall has been established due to workplace violence resulting from the patient and family,

Everyone has to deal with conflict: both in the workplace and personal lives. Fresh nurses too have to witness this at their new work setting.

Horizontal violence is a negative phenomenon that is increasing significantly in the hospital setting. It is defined as bullying, verbal and physical aggression that occurs to employees in the workforce. Horizontal violence has harmful effects on nurses as it lowers their self- esteem, and makes them feel as if they have no power in their career. This phenomenon also negatively impacts patient centered care and safety as nurses are more vulnerable to making medication errors and careless mistakes. Horizontal violence can be decreased in the hospital setting if interventions are implemented by members of the health care team. Education is key to decrease the occurrence of horizontal violence as it enables health care workers to

In a profession where others' health and well-being are priority, there leaves room for neglect of those who are delegated to care for these people. As a professional nurse, there are many obstacles that arise and affect the care provided to a patient, as well as the livelihood of the nurse. The current deteriorating and unsafe staffing conditions in hospitals and other institutions prompts workplace advocacy as the universally appropriate concept for maintaining professional nursing practice.  Common

Health care workers are often hit, kicked, punched, pushed, scratched, bitten, spit on, threatened with a weapon, harassed by patients, family members, or visitors. How often does this happen? In a 2014 survey close to 70% of nurses reported being attacked while on the job within the last year (Jacobson, 2014). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care workers experience the most non fatal workplace violence when compared to other professions. Workplace violence towards health care workers is an international issue. (Waschgler, 2012) Nurses are often required to get uncomfortably close to very stressed out people. Some assaults come from psychotic persons brought into the emergency department, drunks, drug users, demented people, but most of the violence is not explainable. In the 2014 survey, 50% of the assaults came from patients or their family members who were drunk or on drugs. Numerous people attack nurses out of frustration. Rita Anderson, an Arizona-based emergency room nurse, was instrumental in getting the New York State Violence

The purpose of this review was to discover and asses the effects of healthcare worker directed violence on healthcare providers as well as the effect on patient care. There is sufficient evidence to say that workplace violence perpetrated by patients has a negative effect on the healthcare worker as well as the quality of care they are

Moreover, another type of violence which nurses experience is horizontal violence. Horizontal violence is described as “hostile, aggressive, and harmful behavior by a nurse or group of nurses toward a co-worker or group of nurses via attitudes, actions, words, and behaviors” (Becher & Visovsky, 2012, p. 210). Horizontal violence not only involves nurse-nurse violence but includes nurse-physician and nurse-supervisor violence. The perpetrator displays behaviors associated with horizontal violence which may include refusing to lend assistance, criticizing, intimidation, gossiping, name-calling, and ignoring (Becher & Visovsky, 2012). The American Nurses Association sets the expectations for nursing standards. According to the American Nurses

This is relevant for me as it is for everyone in the healthcare industry. We all want to work in an environment that is free from violence especially in an environment that is already full of stress. It is good to know that there are governmental sanctions for those that violate harassment or violence regulations in the workplace. We still need management to be accountable with those under their direction, disciplining and counseling problem employees as necessary. Because of this threat that constantly hangs over our heads we as nurses should develop a process or plan

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2000) shows that 48% of all non-fatal work related assaults and acts of violence have occurred in health care and social service settings. Violence against mental health and health care workers has the potential to cause major physical injuries and psychological trauma. In return this poses serious consequences on employers such as increased turnover, medical and psychological care, increased absenteeism, decreased morale, job dissatisfaction, legal issues, and worker burn-out. Agencies and clinicians are encouraged to evaluate and identify the risks that are potential barriers in their agencies. Safety plans need to be implemented and strategized along with re-evaluations on a continuous basis (Taylor, H. 2013).

Nurses continually strive to bring holistic, efficient, and safe care to their patients. However, if the safety and well-being of the nurses are threatened or compromised, it is difficult for nurses to work effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the position of the American Nurses Association (ANA) advocate that every nursing professional have the right to work in a healthy work environment free of abusive behavior such as bullying, hostility, lateral abuse and violence, sexual harassment, intimidation, abuse of authority and position and reprisal for speaking out against abuses (American Nurses Association, 2012).

To better understand the epidemiology of fatal violence in the health care setting, Goodman and colleagues examined death certificates over a 10¬year period (1980–1990). During this time, 522 health care workers died of work-related injuries, 106 of which were homicides. Twenty-six of those killed were

Workplace violence and hazing is problem in almost every profession, but in nursing it could potentially put a life in danger. Nursing students are not warned about “nurses eat their young” sometimes until it is too late. If you get lucky you get to experience it during your clinical rotation where you have your instructor to back you up or you have the other students that are still your friends. It is always an eye opener when the nurse you are buddied up with during your clinical calls you “student” for the whole day because she cannot be expected to remember every student’s name. It is times like these you do not want to go to your instructor and

A Qualitative Study of Difficult Nurse-Patient Encounters in Home Health Care is a qualitative article that explore the standpoint encounters of the home health care registered nurse to patient. The study described the vulnerability of the home health nurses to assault and violence as leading perpetrators against nurses.

Most companies and government agencies have policies in place that can support the vision of non-violence in the workplace. “Berman noted that workplace violence is not new, but it periodically emerges as a priority for an organization. It is clear that workplace violence requires a comprehensive approach and training should be recurrent” (Berman 2013, 351-352). Theses comprehensive approaches should deal with strategies in identifying the problem, zero-tolerance policy and after action review plan. Overall the plan should focus on the potential of violence happening within their companies and government agencies. “Federal employees in organizations such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The discussion topics raise a lot of issues that nurses and family members of nurses face today. As nurses, we have a responsibility to society, but we also have personal responsibilities. Dealing with fatigue and unsafe patient-to-nurse ratios are only two of the issues that come to mind when I contemplate my nursing responsibilities. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is fighting for the rights of nurses as well as patients, to establish safe working conditions and safe health care delivery. The ANA does not encourage nurses to work overtime, not do they encourage unsafe patient-to-nurse ratios (American Nurses Association, 2014).