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Coping mechanism
Lack of support for nurses facing violence .
Australian nurses experiencing workplace violence are turning to their fellow nurses to cope due to a lack of support from their organisation , new research shows .
Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Queensland spoke with 23 nurses working in hospitals across regional Queensland .
The majority said they had experienced workplace violence , but felt “ unsupported immediately ” by management in the aftermath of an incident .
“ We found that often support was not provided , nor were nurses aware of the support services available ,” said study author Dr Hila Dafny .
“ Although personal family and friends were a valuable support , most nurses were reluctant to disclose their experiences to protect them .”
A 2021 survey by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Association SA found 47 per cent of health care workers said they or their colleagues have been exposed to violence or threats of violence in the workplace .
Alarmingly , the study showed 76 per cent agreed that they or their colleagues regularly experience traumatic events , distressing situations or aggressive patients .
Dafny said many nurses she interviewed felt the strongest source of support they had after an incident came from other frontline nurses .
“ We have to support each other because that is all we have , especially senior staff members ,” one participant said .
The findings come as rising Covid-19 hospitalisations and influenza cases overwhelm state hospitals , prompting nurses to walk off the job due to chronic understaffing .
Past studies have highlighted a direct link between staff shortages in hospitals and increased incidents of verbal and physical violence .
“ There is a need for hospital management to provide effective support services and improve staff awareness of available support services ,” said Dafny .
“ They need to provide appropriate effective support , which may mitigate the enduring impacts of experiencing violence .” ■
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