Assault between nurses and patients can go both ways. Yet, violence against nurses is rising internationally and can occur when a patient physically or verbally attacks their nurse. In fact, one out of four nurses gets assaulted at work which can include direct threats or physical acts by patients. More often than not, patients who assault their nurses are suffering from emotional or physical distress. Regardless of the reason, however, attacks on nurses should never be tolerated; nurses are entitled to feel safe in their workplace.
That said, if you are a registered nurse (RN) or working as any other type of health care professional and have experienced assault at work, it’s always best to report the situation immediately to management. Additionally, here are a few actions you can take to protect yourself or handle patient assaults while working as a nurse.
Violence Is Never Okay
Multiple nurses across the country have reported instances of being kicked, punched, smacked, and even spit on by their patients. And while some nurses have been told “it’s just part of the job,” it’s important to keep in mind that violence should never be accepted in the workplace. That’s because repeated physical aggression against nurses not only leads to high nursing turnover rates but can also affect job satisfaction and even lead to nurse burnout. Therefore, it’s recommended that a nurse who has experienced violence by a patient on the job doesn’t just toss the situation aside or become complacent with workplace violence. Instead, the nurse should report and record the patient's assault immediately to management. Moreover, if the patient's attack on the nurse resulted in moderate to severe physical or emotional damage, then the occurrence should be disclosed to the local authorities. This disclosure could mean filing a police report as well as submitting a written report for management to keep on file. Either way, remember that cruelty in the workplace is unacceptable. Accordingly, maintaining a zero-tolerance mindset against violence and speaking up when an assault occurs is the best way to stay safe as a nursing professional.
Ask for Better Safety Measures
As a nurse, it’s your right to feel safe at your workplace. With that said, if you are a nurse and have experienced violence resulting from a patient attack, you have the right to demand more safety measures while on shift. In other words, while no universal strategy exists to eliminate workplace violence completely, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) includes guidance on how to create and implement violence prevention programs at work. Likewise, strategies that may help prevent workplace violence include the following:
- A supervisor who maintains safe staffing levels
- The installation of alarm systems
- The development of an extra layer of staff training to prepare for or prevent violence within the workplace.
If you are a nurse who has been a victim of assault, first report the situation. Next, consider following up with management by insisting that they implement better work safety procedures.
Get Support
Experiencing patient assault as a nurse can lead to feelings of extreme vulnerability and depression because workplace violence can cause depressive symptoms and severely undermine a nurse’s psychological well-being. Similarly, if repeated patient attacks occur, a nurse may feel that they are not mentally capable of continuing their work and may choose to take a medical leave. In both cases, a nurse should feel supported to seek out help when needed. This help could include professional counseling offered by their place of employment or help for psychological trauma from an outside organization.
Nurses may feel confused, frightened, and traumatized after patient assaults. Subsequently, some nurses may feel more comfortable confiding in a nursing colleague and asking for their support when filing a report or speaking with management. In both cases, a nurse should never feel alone or isolated when reaching out for support. And while we understand that it may feel intimidating to ask for help, it’s okay not to be okay. On the same token, the right therapy can be an effective way to help you navigate workplace trauma and develop important coping mechanisms for the future.
Take a Nursing Break
Whether you have experienced a violent incident once or many times while working as a nurse and feel that your mental health is at stake, you may want to take a nursing break. That is to say, in addition to workplace violence, some nurses may experience a phenomenon called empathy fatigue. Empathy fatigue can occur due to repeated and prolonged contact with traumatic and stressful events. Consequently, repeated subjection to a patient’s trauma and the general pressures that come with a nursing job can lead to mental, physical, and spiritual depletion. For these reasons, if you feel like you are in a physiological crisis and sense that you cannot perform your everyday duties as a nurse, it’s okay to take care of yourself and take a formal nursing leave.
Say NO to Patient Violence against Nurses
While policy groups and nurse organizations are speaking up for change within healthcare occupational safety, many nurses are demanding that action against workplace violence happen now. That said, the U.S. House of Representatives recently announced a bill that will establish legal penalties for assaulting or intimidating hospital employees. The Safety From Violence Against Health Care Professionals (SAVE) Act could ensure protection for healthcare employees, ensuring that offenders who commit violent crimes against healthcare workers are criminally prosecuted. Ultimately, the hope is that the SAVE Act will further deter violent acts from occurring in hospitals throughout the country.
As more policy and prevention programs against workplace assault are being created and carried out, bear in mind that your voice matters. Simply put, say NO to workplace violence.
If you are a victim of patient assault, speak up, reach out, and file a report promptly. Because at the end of the day, violence is never the answer—no matter the cause.
Have you been a victim of patient violence against nurses? How have you handled it?
