New survey reveals widespread violence against hospital staff
New survey reveals widespread violence against hospital staff
In an alarming new survey, researchers reveal that nearly 40% of California emergency room employees have experienced physical assault while on the job in the past year. Partly to blame is the wide range of drug and alcohol-related incidents that are sent to the emergency room- often resulting in dramatic run-ins between emergency room staff and intoxicated, injured individuals.
The survey was performed by the University of California, San Francisco along with other researchers. Of those medical professionals participating in the survey, one in ten emergency room nurses reported being assaulted in the past week. The California Nurse's Union has recently become more vocal in its advocacy against emergency room violence and prevention of injury.
Of all medical arenas, violence is most often reported in psychiatric wards and emergency medical facilities. Emergency rooms across the state have experienced significantly increased waiting room times and many patients are unemployed, uninsured and frustrated with their inability to find quality medical care.
As part of the survey, medical professionals were asked to share personal anecdotes of violence they experienced while on the job. One nurse recalled an intoxicated and bloodied patient escaping from his recovery cubicle with surgical scissors and proceeding to chase other patients and nurses through the emergency ward. The patient could not be subdued through traditional methods and was tasered by police standing by.
Another nursed shared an unbelievable story that involved assault and attempted rape in a Sacramento-area hospital. The offender was a homeless man suffering from hypothermia who became very agitated as his recovery status improved.
Many California nurses are concerned about the increasing threats against hospital staff. One nurse stated "we should not have to wait until a nurse, doctor or EMT or patient is seriously injured or killed before something is done."
Workers compensation claims are mounting in California as more and more medical professionals are experiencing injuries on the job. Actually, violence against hospital staff is rather commonplace according to hospital records across the nation. Levels of assault range from biting, hitting, kicking, chasing and verbal threats. Many workers insist the assaultive conduct is just part of the job description.
In a similar 2009 survey, nearly one-half of hospital staffers in California and New Jersey did not report violence or assaults to their supervisors.
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