NURSING IN TRANSITION
13
Physical and Verbal Abuse In addition, the survey indicates that physical and verbal abuse from patients and colleagues continues to be an occupational hazard for nurses. Verbal abuse from patients is particularly common, with 38% of nurses indicating they always or often are exposed to verbal abuse from patients and 33% indicating they sometimes are . Fifteen percent of nurses indicated they always or often experience physical abuse from patients, while 27% said they sometimes do.
How often, if at all, have you experienced any of the following workplace incidents?
Figure 14
Always
Often Sometimes Rarely Never
Physical Abuse from Colleagues Verbal Abuse from Colleagues Verbal Abuse from Patients Physical Abuse from Patients
1% 3% 11% 3%
2% 5% 15% 76% 10% 25% 34% 28% 33% 20% 9% 12% 27% 30% 28% 27%
Burnout and compassion fatigue among nurses, as well as incidents of verbal and physical abuse, were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic and many hospitals and other healthcare facilities have taken steps to address these problems. However, the survey indicates that burnout and compassion fatigue continue to weigh on many nurses.
Things can get really tough sometimes. Long hours, difficult patients, and the feeling you are constantly running on empty.”
AMNHealthcare.com
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease