Thursday, July 30, 2009
ENA: Survey finds half of ER nurses are physically assaulted at work
More than one-half of emergency room nurses have experienced physical violence at work in the form of being hit, pushed, shoved, scratched, kicked or spat on by patients or visitors, according to results from a survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association in Des Plaines, IL. Of the nearly 3,500 nurses surveyed, one-quarter reported having experienced such violence more than 20 times in the past three years.
When asked to rate their safety at work on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the safest), 67 percent of nurses ranked their ERs at a 5 or lower.
Among the survey's recommendations:
- Develop clear and consistent policies for violence reporting and establish a culture where reporting is accepted.
- Provide access to medical care and counseling for victims of violence.
- Appoint a task force to identify vulnerabilities within the ER and develop a plan to prevent and respond to incidents.
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