A growing disparity between the number of patients and nurses assigned to them is helping lead to increasing violence in healthcare facilities, according to an Aug. 7 PBS report.
Healthcare is up to five times more dangerous than any other profession in terms of workplace violence, Michael D'Angelo, a former police officer who now works as a healthcare security consultant, said in the report.
Worsening staffing and patient ratios are an "absolutely catastrophic formula for workplace violence increasing," he said.
Other factors contributing to growing healthcare workplace violence include an emphasis by some hospital administrators to placate aggressive visitors so they can avoid bad reviews, said Deborah Burger, RN, president of National Nurses United.
That's because current legislation on federal reimbursement rates is tied to customer satisfaction surveys, she said.
"Hospitals don't really have a complaints department, so the only real target they have is the nurse or staff that are standing right in front of them," she added.
More details on recent healthcare violence incidents can be found here.