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MASSACHUSETTS NURSE NEWSLETTER :: September
2005
Groundbreaking survey on workplace violence
released
The Massachusetts Nurses Association Workplace Violence
and Abuse Prevention Task Force, in conjunction with the University
of Massachusetts at Amherst, recently released the results of the
first-ever survey on the prevalence of workplace violence for nurses
in the state, showing an alarming number of nurses have experienced
workplace violence in the last two years, and the overwhelming majority
cite poor staffing conditions as a primary cause.
The study documents responses of 172 nurses working in a wide variety
of specialty areas from three different MNA facilities and a pilot
group who attended the MNA 2004 Convention.
Key findings of the study include:
- More than half of those surveyed report that
workplace violence has been a serious problem in the
last two years.
- Just over 30 percent report being regularly
or frequently physically threatened; and between 25 and 30 percent
were regularly or frequently pinched, scratched, spit on, or had
their hand or wrist twisted.
- Almost 50 percent had been punched at least
once; seven respondents report having been strangled in the past
two years; eight sexually assaulted and two intentionally stuck
with a contaminated needle.
- The majority of violent acts are committed by
patients.
- There are a variety of items identified for
use as weapons by nurses in the survey, including a third who
have seen furniture used as a weapon, just under 30 percent have
witnessed pencils or pens and medical equipment used. Less common
are scissors (11 percent), knives (9 percent) syringes (5 percent)
and guns (2 percent).
- Most nurses continue to work after reporting
an incident of violence. Less than 1 percent refused to keep working
and less than 2 percent were sent home. Fewer than a quarter were
offered relief so that they could stop working if they needed
to.
- The majority said that while management was
supportive, nothing was done to solve the problem.
- Just over half of those reporting said they
later had difficulty concentrating on their job. Others report
being easily startled, psychological symptoms such as fear, physical
symptoms such as headaches, difficulty working in an environment
that reminds them of the past incident, and an actual impact on
their ability to work due to injuries sustained.
- Only 20 percent say that they feel their employer
is very concerned about their overall safety at work including
workplace violence.
As to solutions to the problem: safe staffing ratios was the number
one solution identified by nurses (88 percent); training on legal
rights about violence (52 percent); adequate time to assess and
intervene to prevent a crisis (51 percent); unit-based protocols
addressing violence (51 percent); and policy and procedures addressing
violence (48 percent).
According to Rosemary O’Brien, chair of the
Workplace Violence and Abuse Prevention Task Force, “This
survey underscores and supports the work of the MNA and our task
force to deal with what is clearly a crisis in the working conditions
of nurses in Massachusetts. The results also validate the need for
passage of legislation to prevent workplace violence and to provide
appropriate support for those impacted by this terrible problem.
We intend to share these results with policymakers and others who
can work with the MNA to better protect the nurses of the commonwealth.”
For additional information, click on the following
links:
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