Episodes of workplace violence and Incivility will only be eliminated when employees report it.....yet we have heard over and over how many of these nurses have reported their personal experiences only to be let down by those who should have supported and protected them.
-Workplace violence should be a prohibited behavior. Workplace policies should reflect this, and employers should be held accountable to enforce.
-Experiences of workplace violence should remain as confidential as possible and only include those who need to know to complete a fair investigation.
-Nurses must be able to report a safe environment and without fear of retaliation. Employers need to investigate any complaints of retaliation, and discipline accordingly.
-Employees who engage in unprofessional conduct such as workplace violence, and based on the findings of the investigation, should be disciplined, including being held liable under the State Nurse Practice Act.
-Employers need to implement training and prevention strategies to ensure that employees are educated on how to report workplace violence, and their responsibilities for reporting in an effort to protect themselves and /or a co-worker..
-Ongoing assessments of workplace violence and prevention strategies should occur in an effort to monitor and correct known gaps in compliance in preventing workplace violence and to reflect changes in the condition of the work environment.
-Nurses have the right to a safe work environment that is free from any type of workplace violence.
Lots of brainpower working on this issue, and I am very hopeful that the Workforce Violence and Incivility group will be able to assist in developing concrete statements necessary to assist nursing leaders in addressing this issue.m