Violence in the ER

A Maryland man made headlines last week when he shot and wounded a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. But unfortunately, his story is no longer a rarity. Hospital violence is increasing in frequency — and ER nurses bear the brunt of the hostility.
According to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety and the Emergency Nurses Association, more than half of all emergency room nurses have been spit on, pushed, scratched and/or verbally assaulted on the job. Almost a quarter of ER nurses say they’ve been assaulted more than 20 times in the past three years.

ER nurses are particularly at risk because they often deal with intoxicated, confused or violent patients. Add to that increasing frustration over ER wait times and the healthcare system, and it’s easy to see why nurses are vulnerable.

While some hospitals are installing metal detectors in an effort in improve safety, many experts say that proper training is key to decreasing ER-based violence. All staff working in the ER should know:

• Warning signs — If a patient is pacing with clenched fists, watch out. Also pay attention to patients’ speech patterns, history (have had they problems with authority in the past?) and diagnoses. Patients with psychiatric disorders and those under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to lash out.
• How to get help — Call for help as soon as you sense a threat.
• De-escalation techniques — ER staff should be trained in special techniques designed to diffuse a potentially volatile situation.
• What to do if violence occurs — Safety, of course, is number one. But after violent incident, report it! Hospital administration needs to know about each and every incident so that steps can be taken to create a culture of safety.

Have you ever been assaulted at work? Do you feel adequately trained to meet the threat of violence?