Violence in the health care environment: strategies for prevention

As nurses strive to ensure the personal safety and security of themselves and their patients, collaborative work is the key. The building of trust and respect occurs when multiple disciplines work together to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to protect all persons in the health care environment from violent incidents. The most constructive means of prevention include participation in task forces, labor-management committees, and agreements obtained through collective bargaining. The health care reform movement is emphasizing the delivery of high-quality care to all. Nurses know that assuring personal security is the most basic step in meeting a person's health care needs. Nurses are well qualified to take the lead in violence-prevention efforts so that personal security is ensured for patients and health care workers alike.