When staff are assaulted. A nursing consultation support service

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Rising incidents of patient-to-staff assaults in healthcare settings pose significant risks.
• Existing support systems may be inadequate for addressing the needs of nursing staff victims of assault.
• A non-blaming institutional attitude is crucial for encouraging reporting and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the impact of a Nursing Consultation Service (NCS).
• To provide immediate support and assistance to nursing staff who are victims of patient assaults.
• To establish a system for monitoring assault incidents to inform prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a dedicated Nursing Consultation Service.
• Individualized meetings with assault victims to review incidents and offer support.
• Utilization of a continuous monitoring system to track assault occurrences.

Main Results:

• The NCS provides a structured response to support assault victims.
• The service helps foster an institutional culture of concern and reduces blame.
• Continuous monitoring identifies specific areas requiring targeted assault prevention efforts.

Conclusions:

• The Nursing Consultation Service is a vital intervention for supporting nursing staff after assaults.
• Implementing such a service can improve institutional response and staff well-being.
• Data from continuous monitoring are essential for developing effective assault prevention strategies.