Other Titles
PechaKucha Presentation
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States healthcare facilities have experienced a rise in workplace violence, placing significant stress on health systems and their employees. Incidents such as bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, and assaults also put our patient safety, experience, and quality outcomes at risk. Nurses face a significant risk of experiencing workplace-related violence. Studies have demonstrated that almost half of all nurses experience some lateral or horizontal violence during the first year of their nursing career.
There is a prevailing attitude that workplace violence is a culturally accepted and expected part of one’s occupation. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the rate of workplace violence events for healthcare workers was more than four times greater than that of private industry, and the number of violent events in healthcare workplaces equaled the number for all other industries combined. The Healthy Work Environment Survey conducted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) in 2018 found that acute and critical-care nurses (n=8080) experienced verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination frequently. From the total sample, 80% reported experiencing verbal abuse at least once, 47% reported experiencing physical abuse at least once, and 40% reported sexual harassment.
Professional organizations and government agencies have published position statements that speak against violence and incivility. This session will empower nurses as leaders and change agents by providing training on workplace violence prevention policies and guidelines. Examples will be shared from an academic center that has developed programs and tools to implement best practices across the organization. Information will be shared on resources for disruptive behaviors, patient/visitor escalation decision tree, de-escalation verbiage and situational awareness, setting limits, and a template letter to the disruptive patient. The resources mentioned can be utilized with patients and/or visitors during challenging behavioral situations. Every individual plays an integral role in recognizing and preventing workplace violence to promote safe work environments for all.
Notes
References:
1. Dermenchyan, A. (2018). Addressing Workplace Violence. Critical Care Nurse, 38(2), 81-82.
2. Kumari, A., Sarkar, S., Ranjan, P., Chopra, S., Kaur, T., Baitha, U., Chakrawarty, A., & Klanidhi, K. B. (2022). Interventions for workplace violence against health-care professionals: A systematic review. Work (Reading, Mass.), 73(2), 415–427. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-210046
3. Kynoch, K., Liu, X. L., Cabilan, C. J., & Ramis, M. A. (2024). Educational programs and interventions for health care staff to prevent and manage aggressive behaviors in acute hospitals: a systematic review. JBI evidence synthesis, 22(4), 560–606. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-22-00409
4. Recsky, C., Moynihan, M., Maranghi, G., Smith, O. M., PausJenssen, E., Sanon, P. N., Provost, S. M., & Hamilton, C. B. (2023). Evidence-Based Approaches to Mitigate Workplace Violence From Patients and Visitors in Emergency Departments: A Rapid Review. Journal of emergency nursing, 49(4), 586–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2023.03.002
5. Shea, T., Sheehan, C., Donohue, R., Cooper, B., & De Cieri, H. (2017). Occupational Violence and Aggression Experienced by Nursing and Caring Professionals. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(2), 236-243.
6. Tellson, A., Huddleston, P., Powell, K., Tolentino, R., Cassity, W., Weller, S., & Vaughn, B. (2024). Beyond the Basics: Partnerships and Innovations for Empowerment to Address Workplace Violence, a Call to Action. Nursing administration quarterly, 48(4), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000624
7. United States Department of Labor (2018). Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/workers/
Sigma Membership
Gamma Tau at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Acute Care, Interprofessional Initiatives, Stress and Coping, Workplace Violence
Recommended Citation
Dermenchyan, Anna, "Strategies to Recognize and Prevent Workplace Violence" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 246.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/246
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Strategies to Recognize and Prevent Workplace Violence
Seattle, Washington, USA
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, United States healthcare facilities have experienced a rise in workplace violence, placing significant stress on health systems and their employees. Incidents such as bullying, intimidation, verbal abuse, and assaults also put our patient safety, experience, and quality outcomes at risk. Nurses face a significant risk of experiencing workplace-related violence. Studies have demonstrated that almost half of all nurses experience some lateral or horizontal violence during the first year of their nursing career.
There is a prevailing attitude that workplace violence is a culturally accepted and expected part of one’s occupation. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the rate of workplace violence events for healthcare workers was more than four times greater than that of private industry, and the number of violent events in healthcare workplaces equaled the number for all other industries combined. The Healthy Work Environment Survey conducted by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) in 2018 found that acute and critical-care nurses (n=8080) experienced verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination frequently. From the total sample, 80% reported experiencing verbal abuse at least once, 47% reported experiencing physical abuse at least once, and 40% reported sexual harassment.
Professional organizations and government agencies have published position statements that speak against violence and incivility. This session will empower nurses as leaders and change agents by providing training on workplace violence prevention policies and guidelines. Examples will be shared from an academic center that has developed programs and tools to implement best practices across the organization. Information will be shared on resources for disruptive behaviors, patient/visitor escalation decision tree, de-escalation verbiage and situational awareness, setting limits, and a template letter to the disruptive patient. The resources mentioned can be utilized with patients and/or visitors during challenging behavioral situations. Every individual plays an integral role in recognizing and preventing workplace violence to promote safe work environments for all.
Description
This session equips nurses with skills and tools to prevent workplace violence, emphasizing policies, de-escalation techniques, and resources that promote a safe work environment. Through real examples from an academic center, participants will gain practical strategies to manage disruptive behaviors and empower themselves as advocates for safety in healthcare settings.