Key Takeaways
- A survey of emergency department nurses in New Zealand found that 84% of respondents experienced unacceptable behavior over the festive season
- The most common forms of abuse reported were shouting and swearing (94%), physical aggression (39%), and threats to hurt them physically (35%)
- The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is calling for safe staffing levels and increased security in emergency departments to protect patients and staff
- The government has committed $31 million to strengthening hospital security, including increasing security in the country’s eight busiest EDs
- The union is also pushing for 24/7 specially trained security in all EDs to protect patients and allow staff to do their jobs safely
Introduction to the Survey
A recent survey of emergency department nurses in New Zealand has shed light on the disturbing reality of abuse and violence faced by healthcare professionals in the country’s emergency departments. The survey, conducted by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, found that a staggering 84% of respondents who worked over the Christmas/New Year period reported dealing with unacceptable behavior from patients and their families. This included shouting and swearing, physical aggression, and threats to hurt them physically. The survey’s findings are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by nurses and other healthcare professionals in emergency departments, and highlight the need for urgent action to address the issue of violence and abuse in these settings.
The Prevalence of Abuse
The survey’s results are alarming, with 94% of respondents reporting that they experienced shouting and swearing, 39% reporting physical aggression, and 35% reporting threats to hurt them physically. A significant proportion of respondents (77%) also reported feeling threatened by the experience. These findings suggest that abuse and violence are endemic in New Zealand’s emergency departments, and that nurses and other healthcare professionals are frequently subjected to unacceptable behavior. The union’s college of emergency nurses spokesperson, Natasha Hemopo, noted that the survey’s results were disappointing, but not surprising, given the chronic shortage of health workers and the resulting increased wait times in emergency departments.
The Impact of Under-Staffing
Hemopo attributed the high levels of abuse and violence to the chronic shortage of health workers, which has contributed to increased wait times in emergency departments. This, in turn, has caused frustration for patients and their families, leading to abusive behavior towards nurses and other healthcare professionals. Hemopo emphasized that the link between under-staffing and violence is well-established, and that the survey’s findings further highlight the correlation between under-staffing and unsafe staffing. She noted that when the system is under-funded and under-resourced, it is inevitable that violence towards staff will increase. The survey found that 55% of respondents felt that the emergency department was under-staffed at the time of the incident, and that 58% of respondents usually felt safe, while 33% said they sometimes felt safe.
The Need for Safe Staffing and Security
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is calling for safe staffing levels and increased security in emergency departments to protect patients and staff. Hemopo emphasized that patients need nurses to have safe staffing levels, not the government’s artificial target of having 95% of patients admitted, discharged or transferred from an ED within six hours. The union is also pushing for 24/7 specially trained security in all EDs to protect patients and allow staff to do their jobs safely. Hemopo noted that the current system for reporting incidents is inadequate, and that nurses often do not have the time or confidence to report incidents. She emphasized that the expectation is for nurses to report incidents verbally to a senior or duty manager, and then log in through an incident reporting system, which can be time-consuming and may not result in helpful feedback.
Government Response
In response to the survey’s findings, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced that the government has committed $31 million in Budget 2024 towards strengthening hospital security, including increasing security in the country’s eight busiest EDs, boosting security surge capacity for all EDs, and providing additional training for Health New Zealand’s security team of more than a thousand staff. Brown emphasized that nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals deserve to come to work feeling safe and to be treated with respect. While the government’s commitment to strengthening hospital security is a step in the right direction, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation is likely to continue pushing for more comprehensive reforms to address the root causes of violence and abuse in emergency departments.
Conclusion
The survey’s findings are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by nurses and other healthcare professionals in New Zealand’s emergency departments. The prevalence of abuse and violence, combined with the chronic shortage of health workers and the resulting increased wait times, has created a toxic environment that is detrimental to both patients and staff. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s call for safe staffing levels and increased security is a necessary step towards creating a safer and more respectful environment for all. As the government continues to grapple with the challenges facing the healthcare system, it is essential that the voices of nurses and other healthcare professionals are heard, and that concrete actions are taken to address the root causes of violence and abuse in emergency departments.