HEALTHCARE VIOLENCE: WHY PEERS BULLY PEERS (6HR)

Course overview

Bullying and violence in the workplace occurs far too often. Whether it is between professionals of a single disciple or among different disciplines, the consequences of bullying and violence are the same. Workplace violence is a significant problem in healthcare settings. Nurses must advocate for ongoing education of healthcare employees to increase awareness and provide tools to mitigate workplace violence. This course presents an overview of horizontal violence as well as characteristics of both abusers and victims. Causes of violence are presented as well as strategies to reduce workplace violence. HV is not a new phenomenon but it is one that is becoming more well-known and more openly acknowledged by accrediting bodies. All persons who work within the healthcare field must take responsibility for putting a stop to HV. In order to provide a safe work environment for employees and an environment that is conducive to the best possible patient care, HV must be recognized and a zero tolerance for its occurrence be upheld by administration, management, and staff. Education is a critical part of developing and maintaining an environment free from HV and must be mandatory for everyone who works in healthcare. It is essential that organizational leadership serve as role models for appropriate behavior and that those who commit HV, no matter what their role in the organization, be held accountable for their actions. A holistic approach involving the entire organization is the best way to stop the cycle of HV and bullying. Creation of a culture of safety not only involves looking at patient outcomes but at the health and well-being of employees as well. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe the phenomenon of horizontal violence. 2. Discuss the incidence and prevalence of horizontal violence. 3. Discuss how and why horizontal violence victims are chosen by their abusers. 4. Identify the characteristics of persons who commit horizontal violence. 5. Explain the causes of horizontal violence. 6. Analyze the impact of horizontal violence. 7. Implement strategies to reduce and/or prevent horizontal violence.