To protect hospital workers, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new law that increases criminal penalties for those who knowingly commit assault or battery against them.
This means that assailants will now face more severe charges, with battery becoming a felony of the third degree and aggravated assault and battery becoming even more serious felonies.
The state House and Senate both approved the bill, which will go into effect on October 1.
Workplace violence is a severe problem that can have tragic consequences.
According to the CDC, there are four main types of workplace violence: criminal intent, client-on-worker violence, worker-on-worker violence, and personal relationship violence.
Criminal intent refers to acts of violence committed to harm others, regardless of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. Example:
Worker-on-worker violence occurs when two employees become involved in a physical or verbal altercation. It includes bullying and frequently manifests as verbal and emotional abuse that is unfair, offensive, vindictive, and/or humiliating, though it can range to homicide.
Personal relationship violence is when someone uses violence to control or threaten someone with whom they have a personal relationship, such as a spouse or partner. For example, the husband of a nurse follows her to work, orders her home, and threatens her.
Workplace violence can profoundly impact both the victims and witnesses of the act itself and the work environment as a whole.
It is important for employers to be aware of the risks of workplace violence and to take steps to prevent it from happening.
Violence against healthcare workers has recently been highlighted by healthcare organizations across the U.S., which ask patients to show kindness and patience to staff. It's also picking up steam among state legislators, who are introducing bills to protect healthcare staff.
This article was originally published in Becker's Hospital Review.
I've made many videos regarding violence in the hospitals and believe that this issue needs to be addressed.
A Physician was stabbed at a Pennsylvania hospital, and although, according to the doctor, there were multiple witnesses, no one stepped in to help.
Violence in a hospital is nothing new. Patients attack (it could be the medication that they are on), visitors attack (emotions play a large part), and co-workers attack (although very rare because most are licensed and are not willing to lose it over.....anybody).
So, watch the video and tell me if you've ever witnessed violence firsthand as a Unit Secretary.
1. Be assertive – not
aggressive or passive. My assertion definition is simple: "Say what
you mean, mean what you say, and don't be mean when you say it." Let this
rule guide your conversations with all visitors, and you will always be
confident, cool, and in control, and you'll always be professional.
2. Speak more slowly.
You'll be amazed at how much more clearly you can think and how much control
and confidence you’ll experience when you consciously slow down your rate of
speech. Speak slowly and methodically when your emotional triggers are
launched, and you'll maintain poise during a difficult conversation.
3. Wait 1-2 seconds
before responding. Responding immediately to demanding or tactical visitors
could result in you saying something you'll later regret. Before you answer,
take a deep breath, wait at least 2 seconds, and think about the best response
and the best approach.
4. Take a time-out.
When you sense that your buttons have been pushed, take a break. You can tell
the visitor that you need to put him on hold while you go get the nurse or
whatever excuse sounds good at the time. The point is to get away from the situation
for a few seconds so you can re-group.
5. Use positive
self-talk. I'm going to sound like Dr. Phil on this one, but I'm quite
serious. Instead of saying to yourself, "I don't get paid enough to put up
with this shit." Say something more positive like, "This guy needs my
help." Thinking more positively helps you respond more positively and
professionally. Negative thoughts lead to negative words, and it spirals into an
extremely hostile situation.
6. Show your power
before you use it. Often, a subtle suggestion of your "power" is
far more effective than the outright use of your power. But, believe it or not,
you are far more "powerful" if you say, "I want to help you, but
when you yell and cut me off, you make it difficult for me to work with
you." This statement demonstrates your power, and your message most
definitely gets across.
These straightforward
tips will position you to keep your cool when situations get hot!