Everyone needs to understand that a nurse who has been hit or kicked by a patient has been assaulted, that assault is violence and that violence is not part of the job. When this basic philosophy is adopted, the need for education becomes clear to administrators, nurses and all staff. Individual states and professional organizations also have published guidelines on reducing violence in health care settings. Critical to the success of violence prevention is active participation by nurses. Zero tolerance for workplace violence should be the rule.
Nurses can play a critical role to help make it happen.
Susan Bruser is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer specializing in health care reporting. Invite local police to participate. Ensure that all staff know policies for handling and reporting assaults. Establish a zero tolerance for violence policy. Educate all nurses on techniques to recognize, diffuse and manage potentially violent situations.