Workplace Violence & Hazard & Safety
According to the ANA:Workplace violence consists of physically and psychologically damaging actions that occur in the workplace or while on duty (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH], 2002).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases an annual report about injuries and illnesses resulting in time away from work in the United States. In the health care and social assistance sectors, 13% of days away from work were the result of violence in 2013, and this rate has increased in recent years (U.S. Department of Labor [DOL], Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Examples of workplace violence include direct physical assaults (with or without weapons), written or verbal threats, physical or verbal harassment, and homicide (Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA, 2015).
STATISTICSSeventy-six percent of registered nurses report experiencing workplace violence
A study found 54.2 percent of nurses experienced verbal abuse from patients and 29.9 percent experienced physical abuse.
The most common acts of violence against nurses were shouting/yelling (60.0 percent by patients and 35.8 percent by visitors), swearing (53.5 percent by patients and 24.9 percent by visitors), and grabbing (37.8 percent by patients and 1.1 percent by visitors), according to the study.
QUESTION #1: In the nursing world, what are some reasons of why workplace violence is under-reported? Do you think that nurses are just accepting the fact that violence is part of the norm and that they only report the most grave of incidents?
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Short Staffing
Our healthcare system faces immense challenges. Staff shortages brought about by cost-cutting decisions, an aging population, increased patient complexity and need, and an aging workforce places stress on working conditions for nurses and affects patient care and overall outcomes.
An increasing body of evidence shows appropriate nurse staffing contributes to improved patient outcomes and greater satisfaction for both patients and staff. However, the need remains for appropriate staffing in all health care settings.
Safe nurse staffing is essential to both the nursing profession and to the overall health care system. Staffing affects the ability of all nurses to deliver safe, quality care in all practice settings. By eliminating unsafe nurse staffing practices and policies, we can provide better health care for all.
Please review this website: https://www.americannursetoday.com/conversation-ethics-staffing/Links to an external site.
QUESTION #2: In 2004, California law required hospitals to maintain very specific nursing to patient ratios. This was criticized by the rest of the country and they cited that hospitals will never be able to afford it and they will go bankrupt. 15 years later, the California law is still in place and hospitals and medicals centers are thriving more than ever. Why hasn’t the rest of the country followed suit and established strict nursing ratios?
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Nursing Burnout due to : Increased Workload, Higher Acuity of Care, Increased Nursing Ratio
Burnout is defined as: as exhaustion resulting from “excessive demands on energy, strength, or resources” in the workplace, characterizing it by a set of symptoms including malaise, fatigue, frustration, cynicism, and inefficacy
QUESTION #3: Once you enter the nursing workforce? How will you make sure that you will not suffer from nursing burnout? How can you help your peers suffering from burnout?
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Review the following Website: https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/lgbt
QUESTION #4: Do you think healthcare disparity is more prevalent in the LGBTQIA Population? Why or Why not? As a future nurse, what personal actions can you take to contribute towards the Healthy People 2030 – LGBTQIA specific goals.