Hidden Workplace Violence

Abstract

Violence in the health care workplace is occurring in a covert fashion; it is occurring at the patient bedside. However, data on workplace violence tend to be underreported and relatively scarce. This article identifies and examines the phenomenon of unreported and underreported workplace violence against nursing staff that is virtually hidden. Health care executives need to be attuned to this type of violence because it may significantly affect their ability to recruit and retain nursing staff. This article provides a synthesis of literature and data from health services administration and nursing and human resources, as well as the experience of the first author. Workplace violence in health care is a critical issue that must be addressed from legal, financial, ethical, and human resources management perspectives. It is a problem for staff providing direct care services to patients with Alzheimer disease. This article suggests strategies and offers a framework for meeting the challenges of managing hidden workplace violence. In addition to the more discrete consequences of violence including physical injury, physical disability, trauma, or even death, the complementary organizational effects call for thoughtful managerial planning and critical thinking. Guidelines for preventing and addressing workplace violence in health care organizations are also published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Extent, Nature, and Risk Factors of Workplace Violence in Public Tertiary Hospitals in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Our study also found that male staff had the highest risk of exposure to PV, which is consistent with findings in other countries. Contrary to expectations [ 12 ], male staff were particularly vulnerable to NPV in the specialist hospital. Rotating shift workers had an over three-fold greater odds of PV compared to fixed day shift workers in the Chinese medicine hospitals, and an over two-fold greater odds of PV and an over 1.5-fold odds of experiencing NPV compared to fixed day shift workers in general hospitals.…”

“…Their violence caused numerous ill patients to become stressed by the attackers’ presence and several monitors to lose function. Without these monitors—connected to crucial life-sustaining technology—many ICU patients’ lives were put in danger [ 12 ]. As such, violence in medical establishments may lead to the deaths of patients not involved in the dispute.…”

A systematic evaluation of impulsive–aggressive behavior in psychogeriatric inpatients using the staff observation aggression scale-revision (SOAS-R)

“…It is well-known that aggression is significantly underreported; therefore, the actual prevalence rates may not exactly be representative (Danesh et al 2008;Lanza, 2016). Possible reasons for the under-reporting are the work overload (with failure of documentation), a less supportive work environment and the staff attitude expecting assaults as a part of the job, and considering the incident as minor and isolated or as a normal or functional behavior (Gerberich et al, 2004, Jansen et al, 2006Lanza, 2016).…”