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against nurses as a serious occupational risk which requires action by employers, law
enforcement, and the community.
The Emergency Nurses Association recognizes violence against nurses as a serious
occupational risk which requires action by employers, law enforcement, and the community.
With increasing workplace violence, what can need to know and what they can do
during these situations?
Jaime Aragon is a retired community health nurse who was nearly killed in 2008 when a patient
stabbed him multiple times. Image via: pef.org
When a nurse is injured in an assault, the incident should be managed as for any other
work-related injury as required under laws dealing with health and safety in the workplace. It
should be reported and investigated, and the nurse must be provided with the necessary
treatment, including trauma counseling if required.
Ask your supervisor to arrange for medical attention according to institutional policy for
injuries on duty. Also, ask for trauma counseling to prevent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
There are several reports of nurses suffering post-traumatic stress syndrome after an attack
and being unable to return to work. One nurse with over 30 years of experience in ER had
suffered many attacks, but after having been strangled with her stethoscope, she felt that to
keep herself safe, her only choice was to end her career. She stated that there had been no
support from co-workers and management. The incident was taken lightly, and no one cared
when she resigned.
Another nurse, after having been attacked by a patient said I dont think I can go back
there. I have nightmares. I have anxiety when people get too close behind me.
Keep personal copies of all your reports, photographs of your injuries, as well as a diary of
all related events (who, what, when, where, how) before, during and after the incident.
Return to work only once you feel safe and confident.
All organizations should have an adequate policy and other measures in place to deal with
acts of violence. Unfortunately, based solely on statistics of incidences rather than the real
and hidden costs, many organizations do not view this as a priority.
Because of the wide-spread concern about increasing violence against nurses, nursing
organizations across the world are seeing this as a priority issue and lobbying for stricter
laws and penalties for incidents where nurses are assaulted. Every nurse should support
this actionwithin their own area of influence.