course materials

1. Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of concern to nurses?
Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of concern to nurses? ON Why is the
subject of workplace health and safety of concern to nurses?How are these concepts related
to patient safety and patient outcomes?2. What action is suggested when you are faced with
an angry or hostile coworker?3. Why is substance misuse among nurses a serious concern?
What is the most appropriate way to handle a suspicion that a coworker may be involved in
serious substance misuse?4. What is the most common physical injury experienced by LPNs
and nursing assistants? How can a nurse manager help staff avoid physical injury at work?5.
Describe several examples of sexual harassment in the workplace. Discuss methods of
dealing with these instances.6. Review the policies and procedures on the following safety
issues in your current clinical rotation. Compare with other students in the class. What are
the similarities and differences? What might this mean in terms of workplace safety?• Latex
allergies• Needlestick injuries• Violence3. Go to the ANA website and explore the sections
on workplace and patient safety under the heading “Professional Nursing Practice.”Which
concepts discussed in these sections are particularly important to the beginning RN?
Why?4. Interview one of the staff nurses on your unit. Explore his or her feelings and
concerns related to the following topics. Based on the comments, develop strategies to
address the concerns.• Substance abuse among nurses• Emergency preparation• Quality of
work life within the organization chapter_11_leadership.pptUnformatted Attachment
PreviewChapter 11 Promoting a Healthy Work Environment Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Workplace Safety • Environmental hazards • Physical safety • Emotional safety
Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Reducing Risk • Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) • National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Reducing Risk (cont’d) • American Nurses Association (ANA) • Joint Commission • Institute
of Medicine (IOM) Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Reducing Risk (cont’d) •
Workplace programs: safety plan – – – – Consult federal, state, and local governments.
Distinguish between real and imagined risk. Seek administrative . Calculate costs of
program. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Workplace Programs • • • • Identify
potential hazard. Assess degree of risk. Develop a plan. Implement the program. Copyright
© 2015. F.A. Davis Company Violence • Social issue • High rate of assaults on hospital
workers – Threats – Physical assaults – Muggings Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Violence (cont’d) • Situations that increase workers’ susceptibility – Routine contact with
the public – Working alone or in small numbers – Working late – Poor security Copyright ©

2. 2015. F.A. Davis Company Violence (cont’d) • Situations that increase workers’
susceptibility (cont’d) – Patients and families under stress who carry weapons – Individuals
– Lack of experienced staff members – Units and patients that need seclusion or restraint
activities Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company What Nurses Should Know • Does violence
in the surrounding community affect my workplace? • Does the layout of the facility invite
violence? • Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of concern to nurses?Is there a
prompt response by administration to violence? Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
What Nurses Should Know (cont’d) • Are incidents being reported to and addressed by
management? • Would training that deals with workplace violence be adequate for
employees and management? • Which types of patients are more prone to violence?
Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Behaviors • • • • History of violent behavior
Delusional or paranoid speech Aggressive and threatening statements Rapid speech and
angry tone of voice Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Behaviors (cont’d) • • • • Stiff
posture, clenched fists, tight jaw Alcohol/drug use Male gender or a youth Unrealistic
policies Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company When Assault Occurs: Placing Blame on
Victims • Victim gender – Women receive more blame than men. • Subject gender – Female
victims receive a greater amount of blame from women than from men. • Severity – The
more severe the assault, the more often the victim is blamed. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company When Assault Occurs (cont’d) • Beliefs – The world is a just place; therefore, the
person deserves the misfortune. • Age of victim – The older the victim, the more he or she is
held responsible for the assault. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Keep an Eye Out •
Look for clues indicating potential violence. • Call patients, family members, and visitors by
their names. • Encourage the patient or the patient’s family to vent anger. Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Keep an Eye Out (cont’d) • If you feel uncomfortable, trust your
intuition. • Know your institution’s policies and procedures. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Preventing Workplace Violence • Have an ongoing prevention program. • Report
all violent incidents. • Hold all patients, visitors, staff members, and management
accountable for their behavior. • Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of
concern to nurses?Adopt a zero-tolerance policy. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Participate in Workplace Safety • • • • • Assess the workplace regularly. Know your clients.
Be alert for suspicious behavior. Maintain behavior that helps to defuse anger. If situation
escalates, remove self and call security. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Participate
in Workplace Safety (cont’d) • • • • Report situation to supervisor. Call the police. Get
medical attention. Contact collective bargaining or state nurses’ association. • Participate in
policymaking. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Sexual Harassment Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Behaviors Defining Sexual Harassment • Pressuring another to
participate in sexual activities • Asking another person about his or her sexual activities,
fantasies, or preferences • Making sexual innuendos, jokes, comments, or suggestive facial
expressions to another person Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Behaviors Defining
Sexual Harassment (cont’d) • Continuing to ask for a date after the other person has
expressed disinterest • Making sexual gestures with hands or body movements, or showing
sexual graffiti or visuals • Making remarks about a person’s gender or body Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Sexual Harassment • Two forms of sexual harassment – Quid pro

3. quo – A hostile environment Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Sexual Harassment
(cont’d) • Recommendations from the American Nurses Association (ANA) on fighting
sexual harassment – Confront – Report – Document – Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Latex Allergy Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Latex Allergy • • • • • •
Contact dermatitis (most common) Generalized hives Urticaria Rhinitis Wheezing
Anaphylaxis Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Decreasing the Potential for Latex
Allergy • • • • Reducing unnecessary exposure Using alternative gloves (nitrile) Employee
education programs Identifying workers at risk Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Needlestick Injuries Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company “Needlestick Act” • Passed in
2001 • Revised blood-borne pathogens standards • Obligates employers to consider safer
needle devices Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company The Nurse’s Responsibilities • • • • •
Always use universal precautions. Use and dispose of sharps properly. Get immunized
against hepatitis B. Report all exposures. Know the human immunodeficiency
virus/hepatitis B virus (HIV/HBV) status of your patient. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company The Nurse’s Responsibilities (cont’d) • • • • Comply with post-exposure follow-up.
others who have been exposed. Become active on safety committees. Educate others.
Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Ergonomics Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Preventing Back Injuries • • • • Participate in safety committees. Work in teams; do not be
afraid to ask for help. Use transfer and lifting equipment. Do back exercises. Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) • Usually affects individuals who
spend long hours at computers. • The most common injury is carpal tunnel syndrome. •
Another injury is mouse elbow. • Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of
concern to nurses?Badly designed computer stations present the highest risk. Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Preventing RSI • • • • • • • Monitor placement Keyboard
alignment Mouse position Body alignment Vary tasks. Use fingertips when typing. Keep
fingernails short. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Impaired Workers Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Common Signs of Impairment • Witnessing an employee
consuming alcohol or other substances of concern on the job • Apparent in employee’s
dress, appearance, posture, and gestures • Employee’s use of slurred speech and
abusive/incoherent language Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Common Signs of
Impairment (cont’d) • • • • Reports from patients/coworkers Witnessing unprofessional
conduct Employee has significant lack of attention to detail Witnessing an employee
stealing controlled substances Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Impaired Nurse
Programs (INPs) • Most employers and 37 boards of nursing have strict guidelines. • INPs
conducted by boards of nursing work with employers to assist impaired nurses. •
Compassion from coworkers is of utmost importance. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Professional Responsibilities • Nurses need to uphold the standards of their
profession. • Ignoring substance abuse places clients and other nurses in danger. • It is
important to “help a colleague obtain help.” Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Workload • Rotating shifts • Mandatory overtime • Staffing ratios Copyright © 2015. F.A.
Davis Company Reporting Questionable Practices • Most employers have policies regarding
reporting behaviors that affect the workplace environment. • Code for Nurses (2001) is
specific regarding this responsibility. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Behaviors •

4. Endangering a client’s health or safety • Abuse of authority • Violation of rules, regulations,
or standards of professional ethics • Gross waste of funds Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Whistleblower • Describes an employee who reports employer violations to an
outside agency • Do not assume “doing the right thing” will protect you. Copyright © 2015.
F.A. Davis Company Whistleblower Guidelines • • • • Gather the facts. Does the practice
violate any actual law? Know the state law requiring mandatory reporting. Type your
documentation and include day, date, time, and circumstances. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis
Company Whistleblower Guidelines (cont’d) • Identify witnesses. • Do not breach
confidentiality in any way. • Send a copy of your complaint to the chief nursing officer or
nursing department or any other department affected. • Utilize the ethics committee of your
institution. • Keep copies of your records. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Nursing
Responsibilities Related to Threats of Terrorism • Know the evacuation procedures and
routes in your facilities. • Develop your knowledge regarding the most likely and most
dangerous biological weapons. • Monitor for unusual disease patterns. • Why is the subject
of workplace health and safety of concern to nurses?Know the back-up systems for
communication and staffing. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Enhancing the Quality
of Work Life • Social environment – Working relationships – ing your peers and
supervisors • Involvement in decision making Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company
Enhancing the Quality of Work Life (cont’d) • Professional growth and innovation –
Encourage critical thinking. – Seek educational opportunities. – Encourage new ideas. –
Reward professional growth. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Understanding
Cultural Diversity • Communication • Space • Social organization Copyright © 2015. F.A.
Davis Company Organization Diversity Fitness • Personnel reflect the current and potential
population that the organization serves. • Silence and gestures are respected. Copyright ©
2015. F.A. Davis Company Organization Diversity Fitness (cont’d) • Awareness of special
family and holiday celebrations • Individuals first; culture second Copyright © 2015. F.A.
Davis Company Managing Diversity • Be aware of and sensitive to your own culturebased
preferences. • Explore your own biases and values. • Be knowledgeable about other
cultures. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Managing Diversity (cont’d) • Be respectful
of and sensitive to diversity among individuals. • Be skilled in using and selecting culturally
sensitive intervention strategies. Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Do’s and Don’ts for
Managing Diversity DO DON’T Recognize diversity Pretend everyone is alike Value diversity
Expect everyone to conform to the prevailing culture Develop informal s Seek a quick
solution Ensure fairness Develop different standards of performance Make the preceding
principles an integral part of your philosophy Expect one workshop to solve the problem
Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company Conclusion • Workplace safety is a growing concern.
• IOM and Joint Commission will continue to impact workplace safety issues. • the ANA.
Copyright © 2015. F.A. Davis Company .Why is the subject of workplace health and safety of
concern to nurses?