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Workplace Violence

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Workplace Violence, Violence in the Hospital, Emergency Department Violence

  • See Also
  1. Active Shooter
  • Definitions
  1. Workplace Violence
    1. Work site act or threat of physical Violence, harassment, intimidation or other disruptive behavior
  • Example
  • Emergency Department
  1. Healthcare is second only to law enforcement as site of Workplace Violence
    1. 80% of ED workers report daily or weekly Violence
    2. 75% had to call police for at least one of these incidents
    3. Behaviors include spitting, biting, punching or attacking with an object
    4. Other behaviors include name calling, sexual harassment
  2. Emergency department factors
    1. Patients experience long wait times, in over crowded conditions and understaffed EDs
    2. EDs allow for unrestricted movement, often with inadequate security and policies
    3. Intoxicated, psychotic, delirious and demented patients are prone to Violence
  3. Complications
    1. Physical injury
    2. Psychological Trauma
    3. Disrupted patient care
    4. Decreased job satisfaction with secondary decreased morale, burnout and attrition
  4. Prevention: System-Level
    1. Improve visibility throughout clinical areas
    2. Minimize overcrowding in waiting areas
    3. Adequate, quick access to exits and alarms
    4. Adequate security infrastructure
    5. Staff education and training
    6. Identification at triage of high risk patients (e.g. STAMP Tool)
  5. Resources
    1. Emergency Nursing Association
      1. https://www.ena.org/practice-resources/workplace-violence
    2. OSHA Preventing Violence in Healthcare
      1. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf
  6. References
    1. Mason and Forder-Baker in Herbert (2019) EM:Rap 19(1): 8-9
    2. Peoples and Eyre (2026) Crit Dec Emerg Med 40(4): 17-8
  • Resources
  1. OSHA
    1. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/
  2. Department of Labor
    1. https://www.dol.gov/oasam/hrc/policies/dol-workplace-violence-program.htm
  3. National Safety Council
    1. https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/safety-topics/workplace-violence