Dive Brief:
- New data from the Occupational Health Safety Network (OHSN) shows that injury rates from healthcare workplace violence increased between 2012 and 2014.
- From January 1, 2012 through September 30, 2014, 2,034 workplace violence injuries were reported to OHSN.
- Of those injured by violence in the workplace, 57% were nurses and 38% were nursing assistants.
Dive Insight:
According to the authors of a related article that was published in the April 24 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, "Injury prevention interventions mitigating high-risk aspects of nurse and nurse assistant duties are needed. The OHSN topic page provides links to workplace violence prevention resources, including an online course to help hospital staff with identifying patients at risk for committing violent acts (those with mental illness, behavioral disorders, and cognitive dysfunction) as well as ways to moderate and prevent violent patient behavior."
The release of the data coincides with an ongoing debate over whether physicians should be permitted to discuss gun ownership with their patients. Advocates argue that it's an important conversation well within the parameters of the doctor-patient relationship; opponents argue that it is a violation of patients' right to privacy.
Want to read more? You may want to read this story on how hospitals can prepare for active shooters and other violence