SEXUAL HARASSMENT: ETHICAL & PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

Course overview

Sexual Harassment - Course Description Sexual harassment has long existed, and movements such as Me Too and Times Up have brought increased attention to this issue. Sexual harassment occurs in every community and workplace, including businesses, healthcare systems, schools, colleges, medicine, and the military. Globally, 25 percent of nurses report experiencing sexual harassment, with higher rates noted in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States. Additional research has found that 82 percent of women in academic medical settings experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment in the past year. Studies also show that 60 percent of female nurses and 34 percent of male nurses have been victims of sexual harassment, and that nearly 17 percent of nurses have experienced physical sexual harassment from physicians, patients, or coworkers. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when such conduct: Explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment Unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance Creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment Workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law applies to employers with 15 or more employees and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. It applies to federal, state, and local employers and governs all employment actions. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing these laws. A recent analysis by the Center for American Progress reported that healthcare ranks fourth among all industries in the number of sexual harassment claims filed with the EEOC, accounting for 11.48 percent of all reported claims. The Joint Commission Standard LD.03.01.01 requires healthcare leaders to create and maintain a culture of safety and quality. Safe healthcare delivery depends on a healthy and respectful workplace culture. Sexual harassment disrupts this culture and threatens both patient safety and the reliability of care. Joint Commission standards apply across ambulatory care, critical access hospitals, home care, hospitals, laboratories, long-term care facilities, office-based surgery programs, and behavioral healthcare programs. Unprofessional misconduct occurs when a provider acts in violation of employer policies, professional board rules, or accepted public standards. Professional boundaries are legal, ethical, and organizational guidelines that protect healthcare professionals and patients from physical or emotional harm and support a safe work environment. Healthcare professionals may face challenging situations that make maintaining these boundaries difficult. This course provides guidance on preserving professional boundaries, preventing misconduct, and maintaining ethical practice in situations involving sexual harassment.