Workplace Issues In Nursing

To identify different types of workplace issues that nurses encounter and the impact of these issues on nurses’ performance or health

INTRODUCTION

A workplace is a location where people with different personalities, communication styles and skills work for their employer (a place of employment). This place can vary from a home office to large office building such as hospital, nursing center or clinic.

Furthermore, people spend one third of their time at work and the differences they encounter in their workplace are one potential source of workplace issues, which can lead to tension and stress for those individual involved.

So what is a workplace issue?

It is a problem or incident

The repetitive motion disorder occurs more in hands, figure, thumbs and shoulder.

Causes of repetitive motion disorders:

The main cause of repetitive motion disorder is uninterrupted repetitions of an activity or motion. Other causes are:

1. Unnatural or sudden motions such as twisting the arm or wrist.

2. Overexertion and muscle fatigue.

3. Incorrect posture.

4. Poor work place design and poorly arranged work stations.

The impact of repetitive motion disorder on nurses:

1. Repetitive motion disorder may cause permanent damage to nerve, muscle and tendons.

2. The nurses with RMD complaining of pain, numbness, tingling, swelling and loss of strength of the affected area.

3. Nurses may leave nursing job.

4. Nurses may go for sick leave.

How to avoid repetitive motion disorders:

1. Successful ergonomic design of the office station.

2. The chair in the office should be padded, adjustable and supporting the back.

3. The place of monitor, keyboard and mouse should be adjustable for all

Definition of workplace violence:

Violence act including physical assaults, threats of assaults directed at individuals at work.

Or an intentional use of physical forces that result in an injury or death. It includes verbal abuse, threats, unwanted sexual advances & murder.

Workplace violence is considered the second leading cause for occupational death in US. Most nurses can’t report violence acts because they believe that nothing will be created to such violence thus, will aggregate the situation leading to injury or death.

Some hospitals developed crisis interventions called “code white” program, which enable nurses to recognize the signs of violence so they can intervene early to protect themselves from attack. Any person can use it in case of another person became loud, abusive or started throwing objects. It’s helpful to maintain safety.

Moreover, trained volunteers staff can respond to this code, which can be started by using phone system or pressing an alarm button.

A. Horizontal Violence

It is a systematic health harming mistreatment of one or groups (targets) by one or more perpetrators which can be verbal, behavioral or sabotage. It occurs over time and considered as workplace harassment called bullying in