Workplace violence and hazards

[mackjohnson1234]

Dear health professions,

Have you every witnessed a workplace violence or hazard? If so, please explain the event and how it affected those involved, including yourself. (Inside and outside of your workplace).

Thank you! This is for a research project and every answer helps.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

You can find multiple news stories about shootings and other attacks in health care settings- there's one involving an IV pole that comes to mind. A research project is going to involve researching verifiable accounts, not anecdotal stories.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I work in the ER where workplace violence occurs often. At one of my previous hospitals one of our docs got multiple bones in his face broke. I have witnessed a nurse get punched and kicked. I have intervened in a patient attack a security guard. Etc. Etc. Lots of published articles online regarding this.

[mackjohnson1234]

I will be doing that sort of research also. But i do need to include research i have directly asked people. It is a touch subject i am not able to talk to nurses and medical professions i do not know and i do not know many. So my professor suggested posting on forums so i thought that would be a great way to get some of the information i need. Thank you though.

[mackjohnson1234]

You can find multiple news stories about shootings and other attacks in health care settings- there's one involving an IV pole that comes to mind. A research project is going to involve researching verifiable accounts, not anecdotal stories.

I will be doing that sort of research also. But i do need to include research i have directly asked people. It is a touch subject i am not able to talk to nurses and medical professions i do not know and i do not know many. So my professor suggested posting on forums so i thought that would be a great way to get some of the information i need. Thank you though.

[Zyprexa]

Asking random people on the internet could really skew your research findings. Can you talk with the few medical professionals you know, and maybe ask them if you could talk with some of their coworkers? I understand it's a sensitive subject, but you have to take the chance. How do you know I'm even a nurse? You can't confirm it because I'm an anonymous stranger on the internet. I could be anyone

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to more appropriate forum for more responses

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Yup, lots of 'em.

Two colleagues with severe bites from patients, several colleagues with strained or broken thumbs, one colleague with a stab wound from a (clean) angiocath left in the room by a previous nurse, many people with spittle in their faces, various punches and kicks and a couple of near-headbutts - several death threats. The effects have been myriad but is a contributor to turnover in that particular ED and EDs in general.