I like your point about low staffing levels contributing to violence against nurses. I have never thought of this and it worries me because staffing levels in nursing homes(I have always worked in nursing homes) are becoming lower and lower. The violence I have experienced infrequently as a nurse, has usually come from patients with dementia or end stage alcoholism. I feel it is important to educate nurses on how to approach these patients correctly to avoid violence. I have also experienced agitated family members who even though they did not verbally or physically threaten me, they made me nervous by their behavior. Nurses should be able to concentrate on their patients, not worry about being hit or attacked while on the job.
It is insane and terribly sad that somehow being subject to violence has become part of what we expect nurses to put up with. No! Violence is never acceptable, and especially not against healthcare professionals who are trying to save lives. It is good that you are speaking out, Theresa, but it is so sad that this simple truth isn’t obvious to those who have the power to change the situation.
Very sobering column, Theresa, and I think indicative of a general loss of personal safety in our medical facilities. The days of those facilities being free of violence are over, sadly, and efforts to enhance security at healthcare spaces are needed.
The other part, the not reporting, seems similar to what I’ve seen among my fellow clinicians. It is not arrogance, or a belief that we are superhuman, at least in my opinion: I think it is a feeling that we have been trained to experience the realities of life more so than most people, and part of life is conflict. Armed with that understanding, we learn protective measures for attacks from our patients, like the nurse you mentioned in the beginning of your column, Theresa. Now we need to add another piece: reporting such instances so we can prevent further episodes system-wide. That closes the loop on a process needed in the increasingly stressed and violent atmosphere we encounter in our workplace.
I like your point about low staffing levels contributing to violence against nurses. I have never thought of this and it worries me because staffing levels in nursing homes(I have always worked in nursing homes) are becoming lower and lower. The violence I have experienced infrequently as a nurse, has usually come from patients with dementia or end stage alcoholism. I feel it is important to educate nurses on how to approach these patients correctly to avoid violence. I have also experienced agitated family members who even though they did not verbally or physically threaten me, they made me nervous by their behavior. Nurses should be able to concentrate on their patients, not worry about being hit or attacked while on the job.
It is insane and terribly sad that somehow being subject to violence has become part of what we expect nurses to put up with. No! Violence is never acceptable, and especially not against healthcare professionals who are trying to save lives. It is good that you are speaking out, Theresa, but it is so sad that this simple truth isn’t obvious to those who have the power to change the situation.
Very sobering column, Theresa, and I think indicative of a general loss of personal safety in our medical facilities. The days of those facilities being free of violence are over, sadly, and efforts to enhance security at healthcare spaces are needed.
The other part, the not reporting, seems similar to what I’ve seen among my fellow clinicians. It is not arrogance, or a belief that we are superhuman, at least in my opinion: I think it is a feeling that we have been trained to experience the realities of life more so than most people, and part of life is conflict. Armed with that understanding, we learn protective measures for attacks from our patients, like the nurse you mentioned in the beginning of your column, Theresa. Now we need to add another piece: reporting such instances so we can prevent further episodes system-wide. That closes the loop on a process needed in the increasingly stressed and violent atmosphere we encounter in our workplace.