BACKGROUND: A teenage patient with an undiscovered gun in a pediatric
emergency department (ED) created risk for violence and high staff stress.
OBJECTIVE: To describe ED staff views of workplace violence risk to guide
improvements and address staff fears. Participants: Two hundred thirty four
health care staff in a Midwestern pediatric hospital system including ED and
urgent care locations.
METHODS: An electronic survey gathered staff perceptions of workplace safety
via multiple choice, forced rank, and narrative responses. Frequency of
concern and fear for personal safety from patient or visitor violence was
calculated. Events causing fear, and perceptions about presence of local
police and hospital security staff, were examined.
RESULTS: 26% of staff expressed concern for safety at least weekly.
Twenty seven percent experienced situations causing fear at least monthly.
Primary causes of fear were patient or visitor agitation (with violence
potential) and weapons in the ED. Respondents would feel ``more safe'' with
increased presence from hospital security staff (55%) and local police
(71%).
CONCLUSIONS: Workplace violence occurs in pediatric emergency departments.
Both real and perceived threats must be addressed for staff wellbeing.
Utilization of staff perception of risk and improvement ideas is a valuable
strategy to guide violence reduction at work.
