Introduction . The Assaultive Behavior Displayed By...

Introduction The assaultive behavior displayed by psychiatric individuals in patient care settings has become a serious healthcare concern. Current research shows that the most common adverse event among hospitalized psychiatric patients is physical assault or fighting. â€Å"Thousands of assaults occur in American hospitals each year, including psychiatric units and emergency rooms, resulting in the labeling of such workplaces by some as occupationally hazardous† (Rueve Welton, 2008). This has led to increased cost of providing healthcare Services derived from additional diagnostic tests for injuries, treatment, destruction of facility property, and injury to staff and other individuals. Background Patient assault is the most commonly†¦show more content†¦When a patient-to-patient assault occurs, staff members are often stressed from fear of reprimand for lack of adequate observation (Luckhoff, et al.2013). This may lead to high turnover rates which further create understaffed units resulting in unsafe patient care ratios and demoralized staff. (Luckhoff, et al.2013). Furthermore, assault brings an increased chance of injuries which may lead to compromised health and even permanent disability. Taking these problems into account, it is evident that assault among patients can negatively impact the provision of healthcare services and management of care provided (Luckhoff, et al.2012). Significance The consequences of assault on patients can severely destabilize optimal well-being. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2013, reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that â€Å"psychiatric aides experienced the highest rate of violent injuries that resulted in days away from work, at approximately 590 injuries per 10,000 full-time employees. This rate is more than 10 times higher than the next group, nursing assistants, who experienced about 55 such injuries per 10,000 full-time employees. Registered nurses experienced about 14 violent injuries resulting in days away from work per 10,000 full-time employees†. OSHA (2013) recommends â€Å"A workplace violence prevention program can also fit effectively into a broader safety and health management system, and it can help