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Attitudes of emergency nurses regarding patient assaults
L Erickson1, S A Williams-Evans
1doggies7@aol.com
Journal of Emergency Nursing
|June 6, 2000
Summary
Patient assaults on emergency nurses are frequent, with over half experiencing them annually. Many nurses believe assaults are part of the job, contributing to underreporting and a lack of support.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Emergency Medicine
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Patient assaults on healthcare professionals, particularly emergency nurses, represent a significant workplace safety concern.
- Previous research indicates a persistent problem of violence in emergency departments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of patient assaults experienced by emergency nurses.
- To examine emergency nurses' perceptions and attitudes regarding patient assaults.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted with 55 emergency department (ED) nurses from two hospitals in the mid-south United States.
- A 31-item questionnaire assessed the frequency of assaults and nurses' attitudes toward these incidents.
Main Results:
- 82% of surveyed nurses reported experiencing assaults during their careers; 56% in the past year.
- 29% of assaults in the preceding year were not reported.
- 73% of nurses viewed being assaulted as an occupational hazard, with only 3.6% feeling consistently safe.
Conclusions:
- High rates of patient assault and underreporting persist, similar to findings from a decade ago.
- Lack of institutional and societal support contributes to underreporting.
- Nurses are uncertain about reporting assaults, despite believing in their right to legal action.