news, act-politics, healthcare act, act health
Some of Canberra’s nurses are facing violence in their workplace on an almost daily basis. From biting, punching and verbal abuse, nurses can bear the brunt of patient anger, fear and frustration. On average, dozens of incidents of violence directed to nurses in the ACT are reported to the government each month. A new program to reduce conflict between staff and patients is being trialled across ACT public hospitals. It’s part of a new government campaign that aims to stamp out occupational violence in Canberra’s hospitals. The Safewards model will be rolled out across four wards at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital. ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the program had been successful in other Australian states and territories at reducing violence in hospitals, with the most improvements seen in adult and youth mental health wards. “Any conflict that happens on a ward can cause distress to those involved in an already stressful environment,” she said. “The Safewards program gives staff the tools to deescalate conflict and build positive relationships with each other and their patients.” Some of the tools include setting clear mutual expectations with patients, visual signage in the ward about respectful communications, a display of positive notes from patients and their carers, and creating a box of items patients can use to feel calmer and more relaxed. “Safewards aims to support staff and clients to work together to make facilities and wards more peaceful and friendly, and therefore safer for everyone,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation ACT secretary Matthew Daniel said the program was a positive step to creating safer workplaces for nurses. He said the government had begun to treat occupational violence faced by nurses more seriously, after previously labelling their efforts “paternalistic”. “We still have incidents reported to us of serious assaults,” he said. “But those incidences are now being looked at more closely with an eye to unpacking what has happened. “Asking, ‘What’s the environment that occupational violence occurs’? “The culture around changing this has changed markedly. “[Violence towards nurses] is a daily occurrence, that’s not inconsistent with healthcare nationally and internationally.” Health Care Consumers’ Association executive director Darlene Cox said the program was an evidence-based way to make health care a calmer experience for patients. “We know that receiving healthcare can be a very stressful experience for consumers, and health service staff may not know what they can do to help deescalate that stress,” she said. “There are aspects of the therapeutic environment that can be changed and improved so that patients have a better experience. “These changes combine to reduce the anxiety, fear and frustration sometimes experienced by patients, and this in turn improves the experience of health care for patients, carers and health staff.”
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Some of Canberra’s nurses are facing violence in their workplace on an almost daily basis.
From biting, punching and verbal abuse, nurses can bear the brunt of patient anger, fear and frustration.
On average, dozens of incidents of violence directed to nurses in the ACT are reported to the government each month.
A new program to reduce conflict between staff and patients is being trialled across ACT public hospitals.
It’s part of a new government campaign that aims to stamp out occupational violence in Canberra’s hospitals.
The Safewards model will be rolled out across four wards at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the program had been successful in other Australian states and territories at reducing violence in hospitals, with the most improvements seen in adult and youth mental health wards.
“Any conflict that happens on a ward can cause distress to those involved in an already stressful environment,” she said.
“The Safewards program gives staff the tools to deescalate conflict and build positive relationships with each other and their patients.”
Some of the tools include setting clear mutual expectations with patients, visual signage in the ward about respectful communications, a display of positive notes from patients and their carers, and creating a box of items patients can use to feel calmer and more relaxed.
“Safewards aims to support staff and clients to work together to make facilities and wards more peaceful and friendly, and therefore safer for everyone,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation ACT secretary Matthew Daniel said the program was a positive step to creating safer workplaces for nurses.
He said the government had begun to treat occupational violence faced by nurses more seriously, after previously labelling their efforts “paternalistic”.
“We still have incidents reported to us of serious assaults,” he said.
“But those incidences are now being looked at more closely with an eye to unpacking what has happened.
“Asking, ‘What’s the environment that occupational violence occurs’?
“The culture around changing this has changed markedly.
“[Violence towards nurses] is a daily occurrence, that’s not inconsistent with healthcare nationally and internationally.”
Health Care Consumers’ Association executive director Darlene Cox said the program was an evidence-based way to make health care a calmer experience for patients.
“We know that receiving healthcare can be a very stressful experience for consumers, and health service staff may not know what they can do to help deescalate that stress,” she said.
“There are aspects of the therapeutic environment that can be changed and improved so that patients have a better experience.
“These changes combine to reduce the anxiety, fear and frustration sometimes experienced by patients, and this in turn improves the experience of health care for patients, carers and health staff.”
Violence against health workers in the ACT is a constant issue. Picture: Shutterstock
