Violence in a pediatric emergency department: lessons learned from one experience

A multitude of forces influence the probability of violence in an emergency department, but none impact as directly as the skilled response of the emergency nurse. It is important not to overlook the availability of security and law enforcement, but it may be equally important for nurses to take appropriate steps toward preventing or solving such problems with a minimum of physical and emotional pain for all concerned. With time and practice, incidents of violence can be replaced with opportunities for growth and healing.