Keeping Nurses Safe

In a recent piece for Becker’s Hospital Review, Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, noted that the health care industry has new and unthinkable priority right now. Leaders now struggle to keep staff safe in their work environment.1Dowling M.J. The facing hospitals. Review. January 18, 2022.https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/michael-dowling-the-unthinkable-priority-now-facing-hospitals.htmlDate accessed: February 4, 2023Google Scholar Over past 2 years, we have seen dramatic spike assaults, with many leading serious injury death. Beyond physical assault, nurses are subjected daily verbal microaggressions from patients families. We should not be surprised list environment as 1 top 3 factors satisfaction on ANA pulse survey.2American Nurses FoundationThree-Year Annual Assessment: Nurse Need Increased Support From Their Employers. American Association. 24, 2023.https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus/what-you-need-to-know/annual-survey–third-year/Date There explanations how got here. pandemic experience been challenging; people more fragile less control emotions. Our politics become bitter. Fake news prevails, incivility is tolerated at level I never seen. big question is, where do go here? conversation an experienced security officer, he hospitals today like moving into high crime area being shocked when your house robbed—you can’t denial about what out there. As professionals, often operate magical thinking will walk systems behave respectfully. Health posted signs reminder, but leaders tell me they don’t always work. Many trauma and, turn, hurt others get need or want. Patients family members can quickly turn assailants. These safety issues happen already burned out, exhausted, short-staffed. grappling uneasy balance between patient satisfaction’s role reimbursement protecting workforce. Maintaining empathy challenging you receive recognition thanks given. use hotel model versus airport model. Yet hotels; given happening, bag searches walk-through must part picture. Taking steps those employed Massachusetts General Brigham, there specific code conduct examples ramifications, essential first step. What happening reminds my early career experiences Department Veterans Affairs (VA). 1970s, our population VA began shift. saw Vietnam veterans who either had PTSD were drug dependent. number assaults against rise. It was significant change caring older World War Korean would resort violence staff. With changes veteran population, viewed environment. Yes, medical centers healing places, immune occurring outside world. Teams learned violent behavior prevention tactics approach stand/sit examination rooms. training emphasized vigilant maintaining situational awareness surroundings, potential threats, dangerous situations. Code green behavioral alerts implemented way backup help if needed it quickly. Much Transportation Security Administration checks, checkpoints placed inner city did inventory all patients’ belongings upon admission. once found gun hat admitted veteran. trained stop calmly notify police. Providing hospital takes village. Everyone works needs situationally aware happen. train every member volunteer watch suspicious conversations. Shows force sometimes situation control. Being skilled de-escalation competency most professionals have. Staff make things worse by saying doing wrong thing. Yearly crisis vital BLS (Basic Life Support) training. also find ways fight back so report letting families know okay. time rethink paradigm security. this requires resources budget constraints. But it, feel safe. Editor-in-Chief Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Adjunct Professor Nursing Marian K. Shaughnessy Leadership Academy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, author Nuts Bolts Leadership: Your Toolkit Success. She reached [email protected]