The AWARE Framework: A Technology-Driven Approach to Creating a Safer Care Environment.

ABSTRACT: The alarming rise in workplace violence against healthcare workers, particularly nurses, is concerning. Addressing this complex issue requires a systematic, technology-driven approach. The AWARE Framework offers nurse leaders an actionable strategy to create a safer care environment by integrating advanced digital solutions.

Classifying Studies on Workplace Violence for Visiting Nurses Using the Social-Ecological Model: A Scoping Review.

PURPOSE: To prevent workplace violence (WV) against visiting nurses (VNs), understanding the influencing factors is crucial. To better comprehend potential violence prevention strategies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has presented the four-level social-ecological model (SEM) at the 1) individual, 2) relationship, 3) community, and 4) societal levels. This study aims to quantify WV studies against VNs, examine the influencing factors, identify gaps based on SEM levels, and propose future research and policy directions. DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted following the five-stage protocol proposed by Arksey and O'Malley in 2005. METHODS: Systematic searches, including manual searches, were performed using English and Korean databases. Published journal articles including editorials on WV against VNs were included, irrespective of the publication date. FINDINGS: Sixty journal articles were finally selected. Until the 1990s, most of the literature comprised editorials, with empirical research emerging after the 2000s. Classifying studies by SEM level, many studies have focused on individual (86.7%) and community (66.7%) factors, but fewer have addressed relationship (21.7%) and societal (16.7%) factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that much research has focused on individual-centered training, with gaps in risk assessment tool development, training incorporating relational aspects, standardized protocols, and understanding of the impact of legal rights and policies. This article advocates a comprehensive approach that considers all SEM levels to address WV against VNs. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: The findings confirm a research gap, which suggests the direction for future research and policies. Stakeholders should be urged to implement evidence-based strategies that contribute to safer work environments for VNs.

Nonfatal Violence Involving Days Away From Work Following California's 2017 Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Safety Standard.

Objectives. To examine the impact of the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (Cal/OSHA's) 2017 workplace violence (WPV) prevention in health care safety standard on nonfatal violent injuries among health care workers (HCWs). Methods. We accessed estimated counts of WPV from the survey of occupational injuries and illness from 2011 to 2019 specific to HCWs. We used the Current Population Survey estimates of HCWs to create rates per 10 000. We conducted a longitudinal panel analysis and a comparative interrupted time-series analysis to examine the change in incidence and in rates associated with California's new standard. Results. Adoption of the 2017 safety standard led to an additional 3.48 reported WPV injuries per 10 000 HCWs in California, or an additional 473 injuries. Sensitivity analyses suggest other injuries did not change in the same period. Conclusions. It appears that the Cal/OSHA standard increased reporting of WPV injuries among HCWs in the first year of its adoption compared with the United States. Mandating reporting of all WPV incidents in the health care setting may be a means to ensure a more complete understanding of this public health problem. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(11):1668-1675. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307029).

Australian nurses' suggestions for the management of violence in the workplace: 'The people who make the policy are not the people on the floor'.

AIM(S): To ascertain nurses' perceptions about, and suggestions for, management solutions to workplace violence perpetrated by patients. BACKGROUND: Violence towards nurses from patients in the workplace is high in Australia. There is a need for good management responses, and experienced nurses can provide logistical suggestions about effective strategies. METHOD(S): This study uses an exploratory qualitative design. Focus group interviews were undertaken with 23 nurses working in a regional public hospital in Queensland, Australia. The COREQ research reporting checklist was followed, and the qualitative data were transcribed and thematically analysed manually and by NVivo. RESULTS: Policy implementation, training, staff movement, seclusion, debriefing and a full reporting cycle were identified as central themes. Workplace violence management happens before, during and after a violent event. CONCLUSION(S): Weak processes undermine management; staff training on de-escalation is needed. Affected staff need freedom to move from the ward. Better medical orders should be in place before an event. A full debriefing and feedback cycle are required, along with easier reporting processes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing management can reduce violence by ensuring better institutional support, consistent follow-up and complete feedback procedures. Legal support, follow-up mechanisms and staff training in de-escalation are key points.

Paramedic occupational violence mitigation: a comprehensive systematic review of emergency service worker prevention strategies and experiences for use in prehospital care.

Occupational violence is a significant issue within the context of prehospital healthcare with the majority of paramedics reporting some form of abuse, intimidation, physical or sexual assault during their career. Though the paramedic literature acknowledges the severity of this issue, there is limited literature examining occupational violence mitigation strategies. Despite this, the operational and environmental similarities that exist between paramedics and other emergency service workers such as the police and firefighters, provide an opportunity to review relatable occupational violence mitigation strategies and experiences.This review used Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for systematic reviews of both qualitative evidence and effectiveness. Studies included in this review incorporated those published in English from 1990 to January 2020.Two qualitative studies met the criteria for review. From these, a total of 22 findings were extracted and combined to form four categories from which two syntheses were developed. Twenty-four quantitative studies, encompassing six unique fields, met the criteria for review.Mitigation strategies for emergency service worker occupational violence are not easily defined. They are dynamic, multilayered and encompass a variety of complex social, medical and psychological influences. In spite of this, there are clear benefits to their application in regard to the approaches and training of violence mitigation. The paramedic environment would benefit from strategies that are flexible to the ongoing needs of the workers and the specific cultural, environmental and social factors that encompass the paramedic organisation.

Workplace violence toward resident doctors in public hospitals of Syria: prevalence, psychological impact, and prevention strategies: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers is a common and daily problem in hospitals worldwide. Studies in different countries indicated that exposure to WPV potentially impacts the psychological status of healthcare workers. However, there is a paucity of studies approaching this issue in the Syrian healthcare system. OBJECTIVES: This study had three objectives: (1) to estimate the prevalence of violence against resident doctors in Syria, (2) to examine the association between WPV and resident doctors' psychological stress, sleep quality, depression, and general health and (3) to suggest approaches to tackle this problem from the resident doctors' perspectives. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 out of 14 provinces, and covered 17 out of 56 accessible functioning hospitals in Syria. Data were collected using anonymous, self-administered questionnaires during February 2020. A total of 1226 resident doctors volunteered to participate in the study. Finally, 1127 valid questionnaires were used in the final data analysis. The overall response rate was 91.92%. RESULTS: A total of 955 participants (84.74%) reported exposure to WPV in the 12 months prior to the study. In specific, 84.74% exposed to verbal violence and 19.08% to physical violence. Patients' associates were the predominant aggressors in both verbal and physical violence (n = 856; 89.63%, n = 178; 82.79%, respectively). Most resident doctors (87.31%) suggested enacting more legislation to protect doctors as the best solution to reduce WPV. Verbal and physical violence showed a significant positive correlation with each item of depression and stress, and a significant negative correlation with both subjective sleep quality and subjective health. CONCLUSION: Workplace violence against resident doctors in Syria is highly common. Therefore, policymakers, hospital managers, and supervisors should work collaboratively in order to minimize WPV and ensure resident doctors' safety and psychophysical stability.

Workplace Violence Training Programs for Nursing Students: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence (WPV) is a serious phenomenon affecting nurses in clinical settings around the globe. Like nurses, nursing students are at risk of encountering incidents of WPV, which may lead to negative consequences. WPV training programs are useful in helping nurses and nursing students prevent and manage incidents of WPV. Despite this evidence, the development and implementation of WPV training programs for nursing students pursuing their nursing training in university settings are scarce. AIMS: The purpose of this literature review was to identify and synthesize the evidence about new training programs on prevention and management of WPV implemented exclusively for undergraduate and graduate nursing students published during the years 2012 to 2018. METHOD: The literature review utilized five major databases to identify relevant articles containing WPV training programs implemented in university settings to train undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Appraisal of the evidence was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: Nine articles included WPV training programs imparted to nursing students in university settings. Overall, nursing students increased their knowledge about WPV and learned practical skills that could be helpful in preventing and managing WPV incidents. WPV training programs were positively accepted by nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: WPV training programs for nursing students should be mandated in all nursing schools. These trainings are vital in equipping them with proper knowledge and practical skills that could be used to prevent and manage incidents of WPV.

Workplace violence against nurses in health care and the role of human resource management: A systematic review of the literature.

AIM: To provide insights into how workplace violence has an impact on nurses and to inform human resource management about developing comprehensive strategies to manage and mitigate violence. DESIGN: A systematic review of the literature to appraise contemporary studies, source data and synthesize findings for human resource management to implement practices to mitigate violence against nurses in the healthcare sector. DATA SOURCES: Searches were conducted using ProQuest, Business Source Complete (EBSCO), Emerald Insight, PsycINFO (ProQuest), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Our search was delimited to refereed journal articles and government reports over the last 15 years from 2004-2019 and included a total of 71 articles. REVIEW METHODS: The research team systematically reviewed each article and relative reports, eliminating any not considered relevant to nurses. This systematic review is associated with and reflects contemporary issues around nurses, violence, and human resource management practice. RESULTS: In the studies we found high incidents of violence against nurses in the workplace. However, human resource management fundamentally services as an administrator, managing compliance and does not do enough to methodically mitigate and manage acts of violence in the workplace and its effects on nurses' mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review contributes to the literature on violence in health care and proposes that human resource management must explore and implement practices towards mitigating violence against nurses. IMPACT: This systematic review will influence how human resource management currently manages violence against nurses and the increasing number of persons requiring health care due to the ageing population and decline in the number of nurses. It will also have an impact on action research to engage in a cycle of continuous improvement that supports eliminating violence against nurses (and all others) in the healthcare sector.

Ensuring Workplace Safety: Evidence Supporting Interventions for Nurse Administrators.

Healthcare workplace violence is a growing concern among nurses; however, nurse administrators and managers may not be fully aware of the level, frequency, or extent of the trauma that staff nurses experience. This information gap is influenced by nurses' failure to report violent incidents, their belief that they are expected to care for violent/assaultive patients, time required for extensive documentation about these incidents, and perceptions that minimal follow-up to mitigate future episodes will occur. This article describes the evidence-based structures, processes, and practices supported to minimize organizational risk and protect nurses and other staff from being physically or emotionally injured and/or traumatized in the workplace.

State Approaches to Stopping Violence Against Health Care Workers.

This Viewpoint examines current state-level approaches to addressing the increased incidence of violence against health care workers, as well as how laws are adapting to protect health care personnel.

Creating a successful workplace violence prevention program for healthcare workers.

In this comprehensive guide to workplace violence in health- care, the author describes in detail an effective multi-tiered training program that ad- dresses the entire spectrum of workplace violence related be- haviors. Through such prepa- ration, assessment, and education, he says, the health- care professional can reduce the incidence and/or severity of workplace violence issues.

Perceptions of managerial support after workplace violence.

Workplace violence against nurses perpetrated by patients is a global problem, and healthcare organisations must take steps to ensure that staff feel safe at work and supported when incidents occur. A study was undertaken in a US teaching hospital to determine nurses' perceptions of management support following violent workplace incidents. This article describes the study and reports the results, which suggest that nurses want better implementation and enforcement of anti-violence policies, as well as more visible and immediate support from managers.