Workplace Violence

The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe occupational health nurses' beliefs about workplace violence and violence prevention education. The study examined what nurses believe about their intentions and ability to provide violence prevention education, as well as barriers they perceive to providing such programs. A survey was sent to a random sample of 700 members of the AAOHN; 357 surveys were used for data analysis. The study found that many occupational health nurses believe they and their companies are at risk for violence. In addition, many of the occupational health nurses had experienced harassment, threats, or assaults at their workplaces during the previous 12 months. Few occupational health nurses had provided violence prevention programs in their workplaces or intended to provide such programs during the following 12 months. The largest barrier to providing violence prevention education was the employer did not recognize violence prevention education as part of the nurse's job responsibilities.

Multiple Risk Factors for Violence to Seven Occupational Groups in the Swedish Caring Sector

Violence towards health-care personnel represent an increasing problem, but little is known in terms of how different occupational groups are affected. A questionnaire was sent to a stratified sample of 2,800 of 173,000 employees in the Swedish municipal health and welfare sector. Seven major groups working with the elderly or persons with developmental disabilities were considered: administrators, nursing specialists, supervisors, direct carers, nursing auxiliaries, assistant nurses, and personal assistants. The response rate was 85 percent. Fifty-one percent of respondents reported exposure to violence or threats of violence over one year. The most vulnerable groups were assistant nurses and direct carers (usually of the developmentally disabled). Individual characteristics, such as age and organizational tenure, were related to exposure. Work-related characteristics, such as type of workplace, working full-time with clients, organizational downsizing, and high workload, were also associated with risk. Greater knowledge of impacts on different professional groups and relevant prevention are required.

Violence against caregivers in nursing homes. Expected, tolerated, and accepted

Violence against caregivers is not a new phenomenon. Caregivers have experienced verbal and physical assaults from nursing home residents for many years. However, because much of the violence has been associated with demented or mentally ill residents, the word aggression was used in lieu of violence. This study found that the caregivers and nursing directors considered the assaults to be violence. The study suggests that such violence occurs frequently and is of concern to caregivers and nursing directors. The study also suggests that nursing homes may not have policies or procedures in place for preventing, monitoring, and controlling violence in their workplaces. In 1996, OSHA published violence prevention guidelines for health are facilities. These guidelines support OSHA's mandate that employees are entitled to a safe and healthy workplace (OSHA, 1996b). Although it is not possible to prevent all violence against caregivers in this unique setting, nursing home directors and administrators have a legal and moral responsibility to develop an action plan to minimize the violence and plan interventions for its effects. Violence against caregivers in nursing homes no longer can be thought of as expected, tolerated, and accepted. Quality of care and employee well-being depend on it.