Workplace Violence

Workplace violence is when a worker faces a threat of violence. It is something that is a very serious topic and can happen anywhere at any time. Workplace violence can consist of verbal abuse, physical assault, intimidation, sexual harassment, theft, and many others. Workplace violence can occur in almost all areas of various occupations, whether it is by coworkers, managers, or customers. There is one particular group of individuals who face workplace violence more frequently than others do, and those are our healthcare providers. Unfortunately, healthcare associates can experience abuse from patients, as well as, their family members. There are times the provider can encounter unpredictable and challenging circumstances when caring for

There are many different types of physicians found in a healthcare setting, and almost all will face workplace violence at some point. However, the group that will face the most risk is the emergency department. “Emergency medicine physicians are believed to be at highest risk of aggression and violence” (Morrison). Just like the nurses, emergency department physicians run the risk of violence because of the setting in which they work. The emergency department sees all types of people and situations so that anything can happen. “One of the most difficult situations that physicians face is being threatened, abused, or physically harmed by one of their patients” (Morrison). The job itself might be difficult, but when something of a violent nature happens, it makes the job even more difficult. If a physician is harmed or injured, it can leave emotional and physical damage. Once that damage is done, it will ultimately make a physician’s job extremely difficult. In the article titled Aggression and Violence Directed towards Physicians, three case examples are presented that give light to violence physician’s face. In Case A, a patient with schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder went to a nearby hospital with hallucinations. The patient was waiting to be seen by the psychiatric team and over an hour had gone by. The patient became frustrated, and when a resident tried to help the man, the patient threw a nearby chair and broke the resident’s wrists. In Case B, a patient was in the hospital for cellulitis treatment. When he was about to be discharged, a nurse brought their breakfast to them, and the patient was unsatisfied with their meal and began arguing with the nurse. The nurse left and a resident went to calm the patient. However, the patient’s temper escalated, and they threw a pitcher of water at the resident. In Case C, a patient had a history of hypertension and cocaine use and was admitted for a