Healthcare workers help keep Americans healthy. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care centers and physicians’ offices.
Healthcare workers also have one of the most hazardous jobs, with one danger coming in the form of workplace violence. Why are they frequently the victims?
Causes of workplace violence in healthcare
Workplace violence is the verbal, physical or emotional abuse that occurs at worksites. It ranges from threats to physical assaults and homicides. 81.6% of nurses have experienced some sort of violence in the workplace, and it continues to grow worse. The violence may be patient-to-worker violence, family or visitor aggression or internal staff conflicts.
Many healthcare settings, such as emergency rooms and ICUs, are high-stress environments that can contribute to the violence. Patients with mental health issues or substance use disorder can be confused and lash out at the very people who are trying to help them.
There are systemic issues, such as understaffing, long wait times, and inadequate security measures, that contribute to the problem. The staff is also insufficiently trained to handle violent situations.
Workplace violence has a significant impact on healthcare workers. They often face direct physical harm. Bruises and contusions are the most frequent injuries, usually caused by being hit, pushed or grabbed by aggressive individuals. Some physical altercations can escalate to the point where the workers end up with fractures and broken bones. Biting is a common form of aggression, particularly in patients with cognitive impairments. The puncture wounds left by teeth can often lead to infection.
Not only do these physical injuries affect the immediate health and well-being of healthcare workers, but they can also have long-term implications for their ability to perform their job effectively. Stress, burnout and PTSD can result in the employees’ fear of returning to work.
Employees need to report these incidents. If the employee needs to seek medical treatment, the incident report can help support their claim that they were injured at work. Workers’ compensation will cover the costs of their medical expenses, as well as lost wages if they need time off from work for recovery.