Workplace violence is one of the most complex and dangerous occupational hazards facing nurses working in today’s health care environment. The complexities arise, in part; from a health care culture resistant to the notion that health care providers are at risk for patient-related violence combined with complacency that violence (if it exists) "is part of the job." The dangers arise from the exposure to violent individuals combined with the absence of strong violence prevention programs and protective regulations. These factors together with organizational realities such as staff shortages and increased patient acuity create substantial barriers to eliminating violence in today’s health care workplace. Agitated clients in the …show more content…
Through education and clinical skills, nurses are allowed to partake in the learning assessment where prevention and intervention of sexual assault and domestic violence can be avoided. Surveillance can be a huge factor in damage control and it should be mandatory that all areas of the emergency room are constantly monitored by paid security forces that are well trained and can immediately determine if a treat is likely to happen within the emergency room. Not only should specially trained individuals carefully monitor all areas in the emergency rooms where nurses work, but they should be fully prepared to intercede where a situation may turn violent. Johanna Duncan Poitier (Poitier, 2003) issued the results of a September, 2002 Survey of Professional Nurses which explained that, ““the State Education Department (SED) presented the Board of Regents with the first of a two-part presentation, providing analysis of a comprehensive survey of New York State Nurses (In the results, there was a clear indication that Nurses are under a great deal of stress on the job. The stressful duties of a Registered nurse are continuous and at times, it is unclear to the nurse when a violent situation may be impending. Poitier says that, ““not only is there concern for safety while working in the emergency room, but there is also the work-load induced stress that is substantial ‘Poitier reveals that according to survey respondents. ““Eight of every ten nurses report they have to work very hard in their jobs. Close to two-thirds also say that they