EMERGENCY CARE UNIT: NURSES THE FRONTLINE

WRATH BEARER
Danial Hassan September 14, 2018

“We must do more to protect the people who care for us.”

Nurses are often exposed to violence that occurs in health care settings especially in Emergency
Care Units for a variety of reasons. They are usually the health care professionals that have the
most direct contact with patients and hence become target of numerous physical or verbal attacks
come from patients and their families. In hospitals they work around the clock, so they are with
patients and families when they hit low points.

Patient family member verbally abusing an ED nurse

Patients can end up staying in the emergency department for long hours or even days that can
escalate aggressive behavior. In addition, emotional manifestations arising from health problems
and pain, psychiatric disorders, alcohol and other substances abuse may influence people's
behavior and make them verbally and physically violent. Moreover, family members can get
angry and sometimes violent when their loved ones don’t receive immediate attention from
nurse.

They would prefer not to take their dissatisfactions on doctors, so nurses become their targets.

Nursing professionals who encounter workplace violence are likely to suffer physical and
psychological distress which affects the individual’s capacity to perform everyday activities.
Furthermore, it also has a negative impact on nurse’s financial condition, personal satisfaction,
social and family life.
American Nurses Association (ANA), 43% of nurses and nursing students had been verbally or
physically threatened by a patient or a patient's family member, and 24% had been assaulted.
More than 70% of ED nurses report physical or verbal assault by patients or visitors.
Additionally, the outcomes of workplace violence not only effect nurses but the institution as
well. Incivility in workplace result in sick leave which may decrease workforce, illness, team
impairment, compromise the quality of care provided, and generate costs.

Workplace violence in health care unquestionably "has become a public health problem", which
may undermine workers' health, their careers, and health care provide. Such analysis may give
data to health care institution, managers nursing experts, and individuals keen regarding the
matter to show how essential is the advancement and fuse of activities requesting proper working
and organizational conditions and aiming at making health care work environments safe.

Health care organization should work actively to reduce physical and verbal violence. Identify
which areas of each health care facility have higher risks for physical and verbal violence. We
make sure the training you are getting is relevant to the experience you are having in your
workplace. Employees receive training on how to de-escalate violence and manage disruptive
behavior. States have stiffer penalties in place if someone assaults nurse or other emergency
medical personnel. Health care facilities and other providers (home health care agencies, for
example) must keep a log of violent incidents and, starting this year, develop violence prevention
plans.