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Violence in America
is increasing. It is moving from the home, to the community
and into the workplace, and it has exacted a staggering
toll of victims. Violence is occurring even in formerly
protected and sacrosanct environments, such as schools,
hospitals and places of worship (Burgess et al, 1994, p.
11).
Although murders
by strangers dominate the media, Federal Bureau of Investigation
statistics indicate that people are 3 to 4 times likely
to be killed by someone they know. Firearms are used in
two-thirds of the homicides; half of the persons who are
arrested are under twenty-five, and ninety percent are male
(FBI, 1992, cited in Burgess et al, 1994, p. 11).
Statistics from
the National Institute for Safety and Health (NIOSH) showed
that homicide was the cause of a surprising high proportion
of all traumatic workplace deaths (Burgess et al, 1994,
p. 11).
Although known
to have a low mortality rate from occupational injury, women
are more likely to die as victims of assault than any other
type of workplace injury (Burgess et al, 1994, p. 11).
Violence has
expanded into the hospital setting. Mahoney's (1991) study
of 124 Pennsylvania acute care hospitals, noted that Emergency
hospital nurses are at higher risk for victimization than
either the general public or other human service workers
(Burgess et al, 1994, p. 11).
Sixty percent
of emergency department nurses reported at least one assault
during their careers. 36 per cent of nurses had been assaulted
at least once during the previous year (Burgess et al, 1994,
p. 11).
Nurses are called
upon to manage both the victim and the victimizer in the
health care setting (Burgess et al, 1994, p. 12).
The safety and
security of the workplace environment can be strengthened
through policy development and implementation, inservice
training and consultation (Burgess et al, 1994, p. 17).
Six homicide
classifications were identified as occurring in the workplace:
"non-specific/random, authority, revenge, domestic
violence, felony, murder and argument/conflict (Burgess
et al, 1994, p. 18).
Violence is expensive
- it has surpassed automobile accidents as causation for
spinal cord injury (Burgess et al, 1994, p. 11).
Trauma is persuasive
throughout society and does not spare any age socioeconomic
group (Eckert et al, 1986, cited in Lynch, 1993, p. 8).
Focus Points
Reference
Burgess, A.W.,
Burgess, A.G., & Douglas, J.E. (1994). Examining violence
in the workplace. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and
Mental Health Services, 32 (7),11-18.
Lynch, V. A.
(1993). Forensic nursing: Diversity in education and practice.
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services,
31 (11), 7-14.
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Topic
C - Forensic Nursing > Section C.6.0. Forensic Concepts > Unit.C.6.1.
Violence (school, workplace, rage, bullying)
