Question 1

A highly intoxicated client is brought to the emergency department. Paramedics report that the client was violent during transport and tried to kick the door out of the ambulance. How should the nurse prepare before seeing this client?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A highly intoxicated client is brought to...

Question 2

As part of a presentation on health care workplace violence, the speaker says, "Injuries to nurses from violent acts in the workplace are probably underreported." What rationale should the speaker offer for this statement?

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons why injuries to nurses from violent acts in the workplace may be underreported. One reason is that nurses may not fully understand what constitutes workplace violence. Additionally, they may not be aware of how to report violent actions or feel that dealing with violence is an expected part of their job. Finally, nurses may believe that reporting a violent act could mark them as a weak employee. These factors may contribute to underreporting of workplace violence among nurses.

Question 3

An emergency department (ED) has doubled its client visits within the past year. This has led to increased wait times and overcrowding in the ED waiting room. Which recommendation by the ED nurse manager to the chief nurse officer (CNO) would be most effective?

Accepted Answer

1. Simply adding space and beds will not help with the rapidity in which clients are seen and discharged, if there are not enough nurses to staff the additional area.
2. The department has doubled in volume of clients, so it is necessary to increase staff to manage this volume. Increased wait times and overcrowding may lead to violent behavior.
3. Hiring an additional ED physician will not be helpful if there are not enough ED nurses to provide care.
4. Hiring another registration employee may speed up client registration, but it will not decrease wait times.

Question 4

A staff nurse is known for having temper tantrums when the unit is stressful. The nurse slams doors, grumbles, and is demeaning to coworkers. The behavior has never been violent, but today it is becoming more threatening. The nurse just came into the station and said, "My nurse assistant is stupid. I'm not going to put up with that much longer. She needs to be put in her place." How should the manager respond to this situation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A staff nurse is known for having...

Question 5

The emergency department (ED) has seen an increase in violent behavior over the past year. The manager has voiced concerns to the chief nurse officer (CNO) regarding the safety of the ED staff. What should be done as a first step in addressing this issue?

Accepted Answer

1. It might be beneficial to discuss the organization's policies and procedures with local law enforcement, but this is not the first step.
2. The first step should be to review and revise policies and procedures so that they are reflective of effectively managing the types of incidents seen in the department.
3. The CNO should certainly discuss the request with hospital security, but this is not the first step.
4. The CNO should not delegate this concern but should personally manage the issue.

Question 6

A night shift supervisor has been called to the emergency department to assist in managing a violent situation with a visitor. Once the violent person has been contained and security and police have responded, what should be the supervisor's next action?

Accepted Answer

Completing an incident report is necessary to document the event and provide information for risk management and quality improvement purposes. It is also important to review the hospital's policies and procedures for managing violent situations and ensure staff receive any necessary debriefing or support. It may also be appropriate to notify the patient's physician if they were involved in the incident or if there is a concern for the patient's safety. However, notifying staff on other nursing units may not be necessary unless they have a direct need to know. No action is necessary is not the correct choice, as it is important to follow up and address any potential issues identified during the incident.

Question 7

A nurse enters a client's room and sees a visitor threatening the client. The nurse questions the visitor in a nonthreatening manner. The visitor begins to threaten the nurse. What should the nurse do in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Keeping a safe distance from the visitor is the best option to ensure the nurse's safety. It is important for the nurse to maintain a calm demeanor and avoid escalating the situation by yelling or threatening the visitor. If necessary, the nurse can call for security or law enforcement to assist with the situation. Leaving the room may also be an option if the nurse feels unsafe, but the safety of the client should be considered as well. Threatening the visitor with assault charges could further escalate the situation and is not a recommended course of action.

Question 8

A geriatric client in a long-term-care facility becomes increasingly confused and verbally aggressive as evening approaches. Which actions would the nurse interpret as potentially signaling a violent episode?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A geriatric client in a long-term-care facility...

Question 9

Two nurses are in the day room when a visitor approaches and starts yelling about the care his mother is receiving. One nurse says, "I'm sorry you are upset. What can I do for you?" The visitor continues to complain more loudly. What should the other nurse do?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Two nurses are in the day room...

Quiz 23: Preventing Workplace Violence