STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST NURSES
Content
There is a significant risk of patient aggression towards emergency room nurses (Hassankhani et al., 2018). In order to safeguard nurses from violence directed at leaders and nurses, a policy is required. This policy must identify the risk, conduct an effective assessment, implement preventive measures, provide reporting channels, and assist the impacted nurses (Azami et al., 2018). The effective assessment of the organizational need for change should be followed by implementing the policy within two months.
Violence against ER nurses is becoming more frequent. According to a study by the Emergency Nurses Association in November 2011, roughly one in ten ER nurses had encountered physical violence in the previous seven days (Docksai, 2019). There might have been more unreported events.
According to OSHA data, out of 25,000 assault instances that were reported each year, 75% involved nurses and social workers. When nurses are on duty, particularly in the emergency room, incidences of psychical and psychological abuse against them happen, according to the ANA (2019).
Due to absence and the expense of treating the injured nurses, violent incidents cost the hospital much money.
Patients with mental illnesses seeking treatment in the ER are the leading offenders of violence. The justification for the policy modifications is the high prevalence of violence.
Details
Quick regulatory change is necessary, given the prevalence of workplace violence against nurses nationwide. Stakeholder recommendations include:
To safeguard nurses from the workplace, Congress and state legislatures should update existing laws and pass new ones.
The law should be clarified and strengthened to punish offenders.
OSHA should require healthcare executives to comply fully.
Governmental organizations like OSHA ought to demand accurate reporting.
Workplace safety policies and initiatives should be created and implemented by healthcare organizations.
Healthcare system leaders should teach nurses how to defend themselves from attacks.
Nursing organizations and boards should create and implement standards for nurses’ safety.