Healthcare Industry Sees a Rise in Workplace Violence

So I was reading this really interesting article about how there’s been a rise in workplace violence in the healthcare industry. Definitely a concerning trend, especially in a field where people are supposed to be healing and helping others.

Basically, the article talks about the different types of violence that can occur in a hospital or other healthcare setting. There’s physical violence, like hitting or pushing, which obviously can result in serious injury. But there’s also verbal abuse, which can take a toll on employees’ mental health and well-being over time. And then there’s this whole other category of stuff that I never even thought about, like patients or family members coming in with weapons or throwing things at staff members.

The article also discusses some of the factors that may be contributing to this rise in violence, like understaffing, long wait times, and increasing rates of substance abuse and mental illness. And it highlights some of the ways that healthcare organizations are trying to address the issue, such as implementing de-escalation techniques and providing education and training for staff.

I actually have a personal anecdote that relates to this topic. One of my friends is a nurse, and she once had a patient’s family member get really aggressive and threaten her because they didn’t feel like she was giving their loved one enough attention. It was really scary for her, and she ended up having to call security to escort the person out of the hospital.

Overall, I think this is an important topic that deserves more attention. No one should have to feel unsafe or threatened while they’re just trying to do their job and help others. It’s good to see that healthcare organizations are taking steps to address the issue, but there’s definitely still a long way to go.