All workplaces not created equal
When it comes to workplace violence, hospitals are a breed apart, says NIOSH. In other workplaces such as convenience stores and taxicabs, violence most often relates to robbery. In hospitals, however, violence usually results from patients and occasionally from their family members who feel frustrated, vulnerable, and out of control. Here are just a few examples:
• An elderly patient verbally abused a nurse and pulled her hair when she prevented him from leaving the hospital to go home in the middle of the night.
• An agitated psychotic patient attacked a nurse, broke her arm, and scratched, and bruised her.
• A disturbed family member whose father had died in surgery at the community hospital walked into the emergency department and fired a small-caliber handgun, killing a nurse and an emergency medical technician, and wounding the emergency physician.
What are the signals that can alert you to potential impending violence?
- verbally expressed anger and frustration;
- body language such as threatening gestures;
- signs of drug or alcohol use;
- presence of a weapon.
Respond with a calm, caring attitude, acknowledge the person’s feelings and avoid any behavior that might be interpreted as aggressive. Be vigilant throughout the encounter, and always keep an open path for exiting. If you can’t defuse the situation, remove yourself and call security for help. Report all violent incidents to management.
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