Violence in the Workplace: Healthcare Providers at Risk

There have been a rising number of violent incidents against healthcare workers in Montreal emergency rooms. In recent years there was a near strangulation of a nurse in a secure psychiatric unit at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) emergency room (ER). The horrific incident occurred due to a succession of events that were mainly attributed to cuts in the hospital’s operating budget (Derfel, 2018). The distance and isolation of the secure psychiatry unit from the main ER, the decision of administration not to post a security guard in the area, the decision to have one nurse work the area instead of the customary two and an inadequate report given to the nurse about the patient’s unstable mental condition, could have cost the nurse her life (Derfel, 2019).

This incident caused a national public outcry and a call for action from the hospital’s personnel. Improving hospital security and training staff (especially the emergency response team for a violent situation, code white team) on how to effectively diffuse a dangerous situation or to subdue a violent and mentally unstable patient is a must. All precautions possible must be taken to ensure the safety of healthcare staff (Derfel, 2018).

Elizabeth

References

Derfel, A. (2019, March 18). Hospital (in)security: Anatomy of an attack at Montreal General. Montreal Gazette. Retrieved from https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/hospital-insecurity-anatomy-of-a-nurse-attack-at-montreal-general

Derfel, A. (2018, June 20). Hospital (in)security: New safety concerns arise at Montreal General. Montreal Gazette. Retrieved from https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/hospital-insecurity-new-safety-concerns-arise-at-montreal-general