Violence against healthcare providers is a growing trend in our emergency departments. Many of us have accepted it as a normal part of the job; part of our culture like running a code. However, just as we are advocates for our patients' health and safety, so must we be advocates for our own safety as healthcare professionals. NJ-ACEP is here to be your advocate, and has embarked on a mission for Emergency Department Safety.
In 2015, NJ-ACEP conducted a violence surveillance survey of New Jersey Emergency Departments. The results of the study revealed about 80% of your co-workers experience violence at least weekly! For further results of the study Copy of SurveySummary_05152015.xlsx
Knowledge is the first step in changing the pervasive culture of violence. NJ-ACEP would like to inform and present data about Emergency Department Violence to start a paradigm shift in your department. Please contact us at (609) 207-7370 to schedule a meeting. This engagement will be a primer about OSHA standards of safety for healthcare workers and New Jersey Healthcare legislation designed to keep you safe. NJ-ACEP will also provide valuable resources that can help develop behaviors and committees in your departments.
Yes, it is true that we work in emergency departments 24/7, 365 days of the year. Providing care and timely medical treatment is a pleasure and duty that we all take seriously. However, while we work in emergency departments day in and day out, we do not need to be victims there.
NJ-ACEP would like to partner with you to not make violence "part of the job".
Here are some useful links on Workplace Violence and Emergency Departments
NJ-ACEP info sheet
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf
https://www.ena.org/education/onlinelearning/wvp/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/violence/training_nurses.html
http://www.acep.org/workarea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=81782