Workplace Violence Postincident Care for Nurses: A Descriptive Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers is prevalent, with direct care staff facing the highest risk.
• A research gap exists regarding effective nurse leader interventions for staff well-being following WPV incidents.
• This study addresses the need for understanding nurse leader roles in post-WPV support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurse leader interventions implemented after workplace violence (WPV) incidents in inpatient healthcare settings.
• To identify best practices and areas for improvement in supporting nursing staff post-WPV.
• To inform the development of guidelines for managing WPV events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an exploratory, descriptive research design.
• Collected national data through an open-ended survey.
• Nurse leaders shared their experiences and strategies for caring for staff after WPV.

Main Results:

• Recommended a standardized approach incorporating institutional policies for post-WPV care.
• Highlighted the importance of providing physical and psychological resources and staff debriefing.
• Identified internal event reporting and post-WPV patient care as areas needing improvement.

Conclusions:

• Advocates for a comprehensive, holistic approach to employee post-incident care, addressing physical and emotional needs.
• Emphasizes the necessity for developing clinical practice guidelines for post-WPV care in inpatient settings.
• Suggests that standardized protocols can enhance support for healthcare professionals experiencing WPV.