Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Workplace violence against nurses has become a pandemic with as many as 50% of nurses suffering some form of violence when undertaking professional responsibilities at some point in their careers (Al-Qadi, 2021). Compared to other workplace environments, healthcare is noted to have a higher risk of psychological, sexual, and physical injury to the personnel. It is not unusual to have incidents where healthcare staff are assaulted, threatened, or abused in work-related circumstances, whether within or outside healthcare facilities (Kafle et al., 2022). Workplace violence presents a significant concern as it is related to increased fear, post-traumatic stress disorder, fatigue, sleep disorder, burnout, absenteeism, job stress, suicide, and decreased job satisfaction among healthcare workers. It negatively affects nurses resulting in decreased quality of care and productivity (Huckenpahler & Gold, 2022). A significant concern is that healthcare workers have become desensitized to workplace violence, to the point that it has become an expected and accepted occupational hazard, rationalizing it as part of their job (Hou et al., 2022). This paper aims to elucidate the nature of workplace violence, its consequences, and strategies that can be applied to prevent its occurrence and minimize its effects among nurses as they provide direct care to patients thereby placing them at higher risk of experiencing workplace violence. Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

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Discussion

Statistics on workplace violence

Workplace violence is a significant concern within the healthcare environment both in the USA and across the world. It is identified as the intentional use of power or force to threaten or harm others resulting in a high probability of deprivation, mal-development, psychological harm, injury, or death. More than 50% of nurses have been subjected to some form of workplace violence, with 25% of them reporting being physically assaulted across the world. This causes a 17.2% turnover among nurses as they are victimized more than other healthcare professions. In the USA, workplace violence is reported at 2.8 events per 100 bed days (as of 2016), for which medical organizations across the country spend $1.1 billion in training and security, and $429 million in medical care, staffing, and insurance (Al-Qadi, 2021).  Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Lim et al. (2022) add to the discussion by noting that 73% of all non-fatal workplace illnesses and injuries are resultant of workplace violence. As much as 38% of all nurses suffer some form of workplace violence during the course of their careers. Many of these workplace violence incidences are perpetrated by patients and their family members or friends who may have been overwhelmed by worries, fears, uncertainties, shock, and panic attacks causing them to vent their frustrations and anger on nurses as the nearest targets. The prevalence of workplace violence against nurses is reported at 62.4%. 61.2% of incidences are associated with verbal abuse, 50.8% are associated with psychological violence, 39.5% are associated with threats, 13.7% are associated with physical violence, and 6.3% are associated with sexual harassment (Lim et al., 2022).

Types and forms of workplace violence

Al-Qadi (2021) identifies four types of violence that nurses may face based on intent. First, Type I in which there is criminal intent as the perpetrator of the violence has no relationship with the nurses or the healthcare organization. Second, Type II in which a patient has a relationship with the healthcare organization and becomes violent while receiving services. Third, Type III in which the nurses face workplace violence from other personnel employed in the organization. Fourth, Type IV in which nurses face violence from personal relationships that may not extend to the workplace (Al-Qadi, 2021). Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Bernardes et al. (2021) report that nurses face five forms of workplace violence. First, verbal abuse involves a range of words and behaviors used to manipulate, intimidate, and maintain power and control over an individual. It includes attempts to scare, isolate, and control, the silent treatment, ridicule, humiliation, and insults. Second, mobbing involves ‘ganging up’ on an individual. It is typically executed by a leader (who can be a patient, subordinate, co-worker, or manager) who rallies others into systematic and frequent ‘gang-ups’ against the victim. Third, physical violence involves hurting or trying to hurt someone by physical force, such as denying medical care, biting, hair-pulling, slapping, shoving, pinching, grabbing, burning, spitting, kicking, and hitting. Fourth, sexual harassment includes requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, and physical or verbal harassment of a sexual nature. Fifth, racial discrimination is any discrimination against an individual based on ethnic origin, race, or skin color. Discrimination can involve refusing to share resources, socialize with, receive care from, provide care to, or do business with people of a certain group (Bernades et al., 2021; Lim et al., 2022).

Consequences of workplace violence

The consequences of workplace violence are related to the service delivery of nurses. This is manifested through increased frequency of errors, low productivity, high turnover rates, intention to quit the job, burnout, emotional stress, decreased job satisfaction, absenteeism, and increased sick leave. Nurses who feel threatened will not be inspired to work better (Al-Qadi, 2021). The impact of workplace violence on nurses can be significant and long-lasting. It may present psychological and physical symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and insomnia. The nurses may also suffer physical harm and in extreme cases death (Pich & Roche, 2020). Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

In addition to the noted consequences, workplace violence has financial impacts. It has direct costs, particularly from litigation. The healthcare organization may face liability cases for failing to take preventive and practice measures. Besides that, it has indirect costs ranging from lost work days to lost wages, higher than average nurse turnover, increased requests for medical leave, and stress-related illnesses (Nater et al., 2023).

Risk factors and protective strategies

The occurrence of workplace violence within the healthcare setting is associated with nurse/worker, perpetrator, and environmental/setting risk factors. The worker risk factors are previous workplace violence training, marital status, age, gender, hours worked, and years of experience. The perpetrator risk factors are being a victim of violence, possessing weapons, ineffectively dealing with situational crises, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and having mental health disorders. The environmental risk factors are the presence of security cameras, the presence of security officers, physical barriers, and the time of day (Murray, 2022). The protective strategies against the risk factors are limiting interactions with known or potential perpetrators, instructing the perpetrator to stop the violence, leveraging social- and self-support, and self-defense (Murray, 2022).  Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Preventing and addressing workplace violence

Nurses are at increased risk for workplace violence owing to their position as primary care providers in constant contact with patients. Preventing and addressing workplace violence against nurses requires that they prepare themselves for the possibility of workplace violence through training and education. Six prevention strategies are identified. First, getting involved in workplace violence prevention efforts through awareness of relevant policies and programs, attending personal safety training programs, and participating in safety and security committees and meetings. In addition, reporting incidents accurately and promptly. Second, dressing for safety by using breakaway safety cords, wearing clothing that is not too tight or too loose, avoiding necklaces and earrings that could be pulled, tying back the hair, and removing anything that could be used as a weapon (Yoder-Wise & Sportsman, 2022). Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Third, being aware of the work environment by noting times of disruptive behaviors such as meal times and shift changes, background noises and crowding, and noting the exits and emergency contact information. Fourth, being aware of patient behaviors, particularly the verbal and non-verbal cues that could be a precursor to violence. Verbal cues include threatening tone of voice, swearing, and yelling or speaking loudly. Non-verbal cues are noted in the behavior to include indications of intoxication, quick changes in behavior, throwing objects, threatening or aggressive posture, fixed stare, agitation, pacing, heavy breathing, clenched fists, arms held tightly against the chest, and neglected hygiene. Fifth, checking socio-cultural biases, such as language barrier could frustrate a patient thereby increasing their anxiety to the point of lashing out through violence. Sixth, using workplace violence risk assessment tools to evaluate the potential for violence (Nater et al., 2023).

Role of nurses – advocacy, leadership, communication, collaboration Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

Nurses have a role in preventing and addressing workplace violence through advocacy, leadership, communication, and collaboration. First, nurses lobby governments and legislative bodies to introduce comprehensive and effective legal protections and standards for the workplace. Second, supporting the introduction of formal training on workplace violence. Third, lobbying and working with leaders to build partnerships that introduce and campaign for safe and respectful work environments. This may include sharing experiences of workplace violence to improve risk assessment of dangerous or potentially dangerous situations (Cherry & Jacob, 2019).

Fourth, advocating for nurses to have legal, psychological, and paid leave support as appropriate. Fifth, negotiating the introduction and maintenance of appropriate legislative regulatory protections and collective agreement clauses in the form of grievance procedures and systems, workplace safety plans, security measures, and violence prevention strategies. Sixth, raising awareness of the nursing and public community to the signs and symptoms of violence against all persons who may be at risk of bullying or violence. This may involve formally reporting incidences of workplace violence. Finally, developing and disseminating evidence-based policies on the prevention of violence. This requires that nurses engage in research to contribute reliable data and support the development of consistent and comparable measures to facilitate research and compare findings (Huber & Joseph, 2022).  Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper

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References

Al-Qadi, M. M. (2021). Workplace violence in nursing: A concept analysis. Journal of Occupational Health, 63(1), e12226. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12226

Bernardes, M. L. G., Karino, M. E., Martins, J. T., Okubo, C. V. C., Galdino, M. J. Q., & Moreira, A. A. O. (2021). Workplace violence among nursing professionals. Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMT, 18(3), 250–257. https://doi.org/10.47626/1679-4435-2020-531

Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2019). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management (8th ed.). Elsevier, Inc.

Hou, Y., Corbally, M., & Timmins, F. (2022). Violence against nurses by patients and visitors in the emergency department: A concept analysis. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(6), 1688–1699. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13721

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9762232/

Huber, D. L., & Joseph, M. L. (2022). Leadership and Nursing Care Management (7th ed.). Elsevier, Inc.

Huckenpahler, A. L., & Gold, J. A. (2022). Risky business: Violence in healthcare. Missouri Medicine, 119(6), 514–518.

Kafle, S., Paudel, S., Thapaliya, A., & Acharya, R. (2022). Workplace violence against nurses: A narrative review. Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 8(5), 421–424. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9536186/

Lim, M. C., Jeffree, M. S., Saupin, S. S., Giloi, N., & Lukman, K. A. (2022). Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper Workplace violence in healthcare settings: The risk factors, implications and collaborative preventive measures. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 78, 103727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103727

Murray, E. (2022). Nursing Leadership and Management for Patient Safety and Quality Care (2nd ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

Nater, F. P., Van Fleet, D. D., & Van Fleet, E. W. (2023). Combating Workplace Violence: Creating and Maintaining Safe Work Environments. Information Age Publishing Incorporated.

Pich, J., & Roche, M. (2020). Violence on the Job: The Experiences of Nurses and Midwives with Violence from Patients and Their Friends and Relatives. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 8(4), 522. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040522

Yoder-Wise, P. S., & Sportsman, S. (2022). Leading and Managing in Nursing (8th ed). Elsevier Health Sciences.

Professional Practice Scholarly Paper

Outline and References Rubric

*10% may be deducted for non-adherence to APA 7^th edition format.

Continuation from the intro and thesis statement but it is a body paper this time. Please include the completed intro and thesis statement in this paper. The professor emphasized applying the ANA standards to the paper. View the attachment for more details. Thank you!

“The ANA Standards guide nurses in the expected professional role activities to provide safe, competent, quality care. You are expected to evidence incorporation of some of the applicable ANA Standards, depending on the focus, into your Professional Practice paper.” Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses Essay Paper