By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Emergency Nurses: An Overabundance of Violence
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Emergency Nurses: An Overabundance of Violence
BusinessHospital AdministrationMedical EducationMedical EthicsPolicy & LawWellness

Emergency Nurses: An Overabundance of Violence

BHG360
BHG360
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

As part of a normal workday, emergency nurses witness the injuries and human suffering that result from violence. They treat victims of gunshot wounds, car wrecks, bar fights, domestic abuse, etc. As critical members of hospital healthcare teams, ER nurses triage, move fast and keep working.

As part of a normal workday, emergency nurses witness the injuries and human suffering that result from violence. They treat victims of gunshot wounds, car wrecks, bar fights, domestic abuse, etc. As critical members of hospital healthcare teams, ER nurses triage, move fast and keep working.

But what about when emergency nurses become victims of violence? In a survey of nurses published in the “Journal of Emergency Nursing,” 76 percent had experienced violence by patients and visitors in the past year. 

Within the survey group, emergency nurses reported a greater number of violent incidents. The survey also indicated that workplace violence (WPV) was underreported at an institutional level.

More Read

How to Reduce Hospital Acquired Infections in Your Facility
Collaborative Conflict
Mobile Health Around the Globe: Bonus Video! An Overview of Mobile Innovations
Are ACOs Just HMOs in Disguise?
TBI In the News: Woodpeckers Could Prevent Sporting Brain Injuries

Emergency nurse and paramedic Gary Busby, RN, BSN, CEN, shared his insight and experience in a letter to the editor:

“I agree with the reported precipitating factors for WPV in the emergency department, such as large volumes of patients, along with drug-seeking behavior, alcohol intoxication, and drug use. I was not surprised that 14.1 percent of the 17.1 percent nurses participating in the study who did not report the most serious career WPV incident were emergency nurses. The study showed that ‘consistent with the literature and this study was underreporting of WPV.’ I have never reported an incident of WPV simply because the reporting tool is too cumbersome to navigate. Therefore, to report would take precious time away from patient care in a busy emergency department, and by the end of the shift, I just want to go home.”

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation scholar Gordon Gillespie, PhD, RN, FAEN, also experienced abuse at the hands of patients and visitors when he worked as an emergency nurse. “This is not something that should be part of the job,” he says. While he agrees that the violence often originates with people who suffer from mental illness, substance abuse and dementia, as well as family members experiencing a great deal of stress, these individuals are not the only sources of violence in the ER. “If we take the stance that everyone has the potential to be violent, then nurses will interact with people differently and be more likely to protect themselves,” he says.

Researching violence against nurses and other healthcare workers, Gillespie and his colleagues are developing interventions, strategies and training to prevent this violence going forward. Recommendations so far include: “designing work environments that allow for the quick egress of employees, establishing and consistently enforcing policies aimed at violence prevention, and maintaining positive working relationships with security officers. While patients with mental health or substance use complaints are deemed most likely to commit physical violence, they are not the only patients to become violent. Risk reduction efforts should target all patients and visitors.”

More resources are available from the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Emergency Nurses Association, these two organizations have developed toolkits and information to help prevent workplace violence in the hospital setting.

TAGGED:nursestriageviolence
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

From Millennials to Seniors: How to Meet Diverse Digital Demands in Healthcare

March 23, 2015

Hospital Chargemasters and Open Data from CMS — The Conversation Continues

May 19, 2013
aco mistakes
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformHospital Administration

Five Ways to Lead an ACO to Failure

February 23, 2015

10 IT Initiatives Your Hospital Should Undertake in 2012

October 19, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?