Workplace violence in health care: An overview and practical approach for prevention

Workplace violence has infiltrated almost every industry in our society, but research has shown that mental health workers are among those most at risk for workplace violence. In addition to the risk of physical harm, this epidemic of workplace violence can lead to negative impacts on overall health and wellness, including poor job satisfaction, anxiety, burn out, and other adverse effects. National organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have created guidelines to help address the issue of workplace violence. Along with education and awareness, combating the problem requires comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs and system-level changes from organizations. This article describes a three-pronged approach to minimize workplace violence in the high-risk area of psychiatric emergency care.