Evaluation of a Comprehensive ED Violence Prevention Program

Abstract

Health care clinicians are at high risk for workplace violence (WPV) from patients and visitors, 1 Gacki-Smith J Juarez AM Boyett L Hoymeyer C Robinson L MacLean SL Violence against nurses working in US emergency departments. J Nurs Adm. 2009; 39: 340-349 Crossref PubMed Scopus (237) Google Scholar , 2 Gates DM Ross CS McQueen L Violence against emergency department workers. J Emerg Med. 2006; 31: 331-337 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (189) Google Scholar , 3 Kowalenko T Walters BL Khare RK Compton S Workplace violence: a survey of emergency physicians in the state of Michigan. Ann Emerg Med. 2005; 46: 142-147 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (202) Google Scholar with 25.5% reporting at least 1 recent incident of victimization. 4 Jenkins EL Fisher BS Hartley D Safe and secure at work? Findings from the 2002 Workplace Risk Supplement. Work. 2012; 42: 57-66 PubMed Google Scholar Researchers found that WPV has negative effects on providers’ stress, ability to provide safe and competent care, job satisfaction, and turnover. 2 Gates DM Ross CS McQueen L Violence against emergency department workers. J Emerg Med. 2006; 31: 331-337 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (189) Google Scholar , 5 Gates DM Gillespie G Succop P Violence against nurses and its impact on stress and productivity. Nurs Econ. 2011; 29: 59-67 PubMed Google Scholar , 6 Gillespie GL Gates DM Miller M Howard PK Violence against healthcare workers in a pediatric emergency department. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2010; 32: 68-82 Google Scholar In response, several states enacted legislation making assaults against health care workers a felony or requiring employers to implement WPV prevention programs. 7 California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines for security and safety of health care and community service workers. http://www.dir.ca.gov/DOSH/dosh_publications/hcworker.html Google Scholar , 8 HCA 50 State survey: criminal laws protecting health professionals. http://www.ena.org/IENR/Documents/State%20Survey%20-%20Criminal%20Laws%20-%20Misdemeanor%20and%20Felony.pdf Google Scholar Professional organizations voiced their concerns about the safety of health care workers. The Emergency Nurses Association's 2010 position statement Violence in the Emergency Care Setting states, “Health care organizations have a responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for their employees and the public.” 9 Emergency Nurse Association Position statement: violence in the emergency care setting. http://www.ena.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/Position%20Statements/Violence_in_the_Emergency_Care_Setting_-_ENA_PS.pdf Google Scholar Gordon L. Gillespie, Member, Greater Cincinnati Chapter and Treasurer, Ohio Emergency Nurses Association, is Assistant Professor and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Donna M. Gates is Adjunct Professor, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Tammy Mentzel is Project Director, College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Ahlam Al-Natour is Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. Terry Kowalenko is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.