Did you read it? — Workplace violence is on the rise, with nurses on the frontlines

To emphasize this point, the article reports that nurses and nurse assistants are most often the victims of assault in the healthcare sector, and therefore at higher risk than their fellow clinicians, according to the Occupational Health Safety Network.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that a recent survey conducted by the ANA found that one-third of all registered nurses include “on the job assault” as one of their most pronounced workplace safety concerns—so pronounced, in fact, that the ANA called in a panel of experts to scope out the scene and develop a series of preventative actions that can be adopted by employers and their employees.

Recommendations for employers include, among many others, establishing a zero tolerance policy for all types of violence, fostering a non-punitive environment that encourages reporting incidents and developing a comprehensive violence prevention program.

But, as the article suggests, there are other tweaks that can be made. It then goes on to make another, more “hands-on” suggestion:

Training needs to be a priority, and should be specialized to the type of setting and include a variety of methods, such as hands-on practice, simulation and mock drills.

In short?

Everyone can help by respecting these places as safe havens, and being watchful so that caregivers are not subject to harm. We cannot afford to have one more health care worker killed or maimed.

Violence is not part of the job.

Want to check out the full article? You can find it in its entirety here— just don’t forget to share your own thoughts on the degree of protection being offered to you and your fellow nurses in the comments section below.