AONL and ENA Guiding Principles Mitigating Violence in the Workplace-AONL and ENA Guiding Principles Mitigating Violence in the Workplace

Pdf Summary

Workplace violence is a significant issue in the healthcare profession. The Joint Commission defines workplace violence as any act or threat of aggression or harassment occurring at the workplace. The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an increasing trend in violent incidents in the healthcare sector, with healthcare workers being eight times more likely to experience nonfatal violence-related injuries compared to workers in other industries. A survey by the American Nurses Association found that workplace violence and bullying were significant risks reported by nurses.<br /><br />The American Hospital Association reports that 60% of hospitals have implemented workplace violence prevention initiatives, and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Emergency Nurses Association are providing guidance to mitigate workplace violence. A multi-pronged approach that addresses all forms of violence is essential to create a safe environment for healthcare professionals, patients, and visitors.<br /><br />The AONL and ENA have developed guiding principles to address workplace violence. These principles emphasize the use of evidence-based strategies, recognizing the different types of workplace violence, establishing support from various areas of staffing, promoting a culture of safety, and involving interprofessional teams in violence prevention.<br /><br />The guiding principles focus on five priority areas: foundational behaviors, a zero-tolerance framework, ownership, and accountability, training and education, and outcome metrics. Foundational behaviors include respectful communication, mutual respect, and honesty. The zero-tolerance framework encompasses all forms of violence and requires clear policies and procedures. Ownership and accountability involve personal responsibility, staff input in the development of policies, and reporting incidents of violence. Training and education should address violence risk reduction skills and preventive practices. Outcome metrics measure the effectiveness of violence prevention programs, such as reduced incidents of violence and improvements in staff confidence and patient satisfaction.<br /><br />The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) is the national professional organization for nurse leaders, advocating for nursing leadership practice and patient care. The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is a professional nursing association dedicated to shaping the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, and leadership. They have developed a toolkit for mitigating violence in the workplace, which provides resources and tools for customizing violence prevention plans in healthcare facilities.

Meta Tag

workplace lateral

workplace violence

workplace bullying

workplace assault

workplace zero-tolerance

Keywords

Workplace violence

Healthcare profession

Violent incidents

Nonfatal violence-related injuries

Workplace violence prevention initiatives

Guiding principles

Culture of safety

Training and education

Outcome metrics

Violence prevention plans