Reference no: EM133752156

Problem

The main ideas of the ANA regarding nurses and work place violence is that nurses should do their best to prevent bullying and disrespect towards others, including colleagues, students and patients (ANA, 2015, pg. 2). It goes on to add that by following a certain level of respect and civility amongst the staff, there will be more positive patient outcomes. It will also ensure a safe work environment for all staff members.

1) Identify your state and describe your state's laws regarding nurse assault.

2) Is there a legal penalty in your state for assaulting a nurse? What is that penalty?

My state is New York. In NY state, the Senate has passed a law that requires all hospitals to establish a violence prevention program to protect healthcare works, patients, and visitors (NY Senate, 2023). The laws regarding nurse assault include felony charges, imprisonment, a monetary fine or possible probation. The felony charge is considered a Class D felony, which holds a sentence of 2-7 years in prison, if convicted.

3) Explain why that penalty is a good preventative measure or why it is not. Provide details to substantiate your stance on the penalty.

I believe that this penalty is a good preventative measure to prevent violence against nurses. A felony charge is something that will alter a person's life forever, carrying that around with them for the rest of their life. It can prevent a person from getting a job, a place to live, and cause many complications in their life. This will surely discourage people from attacking a nurse. In addition, knowing that they could serve up to 7 years in prison for such violence, most people will think twice before attempting to harm a nurse.

4) Reflect upon your workplace experience.

5) How does the nurse's role includes practices that help to ensure a secure workplace?

The nurse helps to ensure a secure workplace by creating a therapeutic relationship with the patient and their family. Therapeutic relationships help to create positive communication about complex situations. The nurse also spends the most time with the patient, they know the family and visitors and are more incline to ask questions about unfamiliar people that may visit the patient.

6) What security interventions are in place to protect you and your patients?

I work in an out-patient specialty, office setting, we have doors that block the front of the office from the back of the office, where the patient exam rooms are. The front desk stops all patients to check them in or question why they are at the office. In addition, we have a safety meeting point away from the building in case of an emergency. We also have code words for certain emergencies within the office that all the staff members are aware of.

7) What additional interventions might be enacted to make it even safer?

Additonal interventions that could make it safe could be getting a security guard in the waiting room to help discourage people from being violent or acting out in the office.