1st Edition

Personal Safety for Health Care Workers

By Pauline Bibby Copyright 1995
    248 Pages
    by Routledge

    248 Pages
    by Routledge

    This book is aimed at employers, managers and professional and administrative staff in the health care services. GP practices, home visits and the hospital are all covered. Despite growing evidence of violence against health care workers, some employers have been slow to acknowledge the risks faced in both primary and secondary health care settings. Personal Safety for Health Care Workers provides the tools to investigate the risks involved and to develop policy and practice to ensure staff safety. It also deals with the vexed question of under-reporting. Part I deals with the respective roles and responsibilities of employers and employees and offers guidance on developing a workplace personal safety policy. Workplace design and management are addressed and guidelines provided for health care workers when away from their normal work base. Part 2 gives detailed guidelines for use by individual workers in a variety of work situations. Part 3 considers training issues and contains a number of sample training programmes with handouts. The message of this book is that prevention is better than cure - proper attention to risk can reduce both the incidence of aggression and its development into violent acts. The aim is to achieve the dual effect of protecting health care workers, and also of providing services in a more sensitive way. Good practice implies a responsibility to ensure that health care can be delivered in conditions of safety for staff and patients alike.

    Contents: Background; Violence at work; The risks in perspective; Violence against health care workers; Defining violence and aggression; Employer and employee roles; Safety in the health care setting; Developing a policy; Implementing a policy; Reporting violent incidents; The workplace; Nursing homes and day care settings; Away from the workplace; After-care help and support. Guidelines for Health Care Workers: Interviewing techniques; Non-verbal communication; Coping with violence; Developing assertiveness; Travel guidelines. Training for Safety: Guidelines for trainers; Task 1 Introduction to violence at work; Task 2 The manager's role; Task 3 Coping with violence; Task 4 Communication skills; Task 5 Developing a policy and procedures; Task 6 Practical steps to safety; Appendix A: Sample handouts; Appendix B: Violent incident report form; Select bibliography; Useful organizations.

    Biography

    Pauline Bibby

    ’...this excellently conceived and written book comes a a time when violent attacks upon health care workers have become bewilderingly frequent. This is essential reading for all health care personnel - and as importantly their employers.’ Occupational Safety and Health ’This is a good, practical, down-to-earth book offering sound advice...’ Community Care ’...this book is clearly laid out, easy to read and full of practical advice on personal safety, both in the workplace and in everyday life. This book would be an excellent resource for practice nurses.’ Nursing in General Practice ’This book offers those working in health care the chance to develop knowledge and understanding and therefore comes highly recommended.’ Occupational Health ’Anyone reading this book will have their conscience stirred and realize that there is a great deal more they should be doing to organize personal safety procedures for themselves and their employees.’ Family Practice ’...an interesting and easy to read book...an excellent resource.’ Midwifery Digest