ROAR's Blog

Psychiatric hospitals can be difficult places to work. Though many doctors, nurses, social workers and other mental health professionals find it deeply rewarding, there’s no denying that working with mental health patients can be challenging. According to figures published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2013, healthcare workers suffer four times the worker assault rate as private industry.

Unfortunately, virtually all doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals will encounter unacceptable patient behavior at some point in their careers. This unacceptable behavior can take many forms, ranging from threats and verbal abuse to intimidation and sexual harassment.

Knowing how to deal with this type of behavior in a professional, ethical and appropriate manner will help healthcare workers to keep themselves safe, diffuse situations and create a more secure work environment.

Psychiatric hospitals can be challenging places to work. Most of the people admitted to inpatient facilities are suffering from acute mental illness like psychosis. This can make them prone to violent and unpredictable behavior, putting psychiatric nurses and doctors at an increased risk of experiencing aggression in the workplace.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Psychiatric hospitals can be challenging environments in regards to staff safety. Psychiatric patients are generally suffering from severe, acute mental health conditions when they are admitted to a ward. As a result, they are often more prone to violent outbursts and unpredictable behavior than patients in other departments.

Therapists often work one-on-one with people who have a known history of mental illness. And while the vast majority of people suffering from mental health problems will never become violent, patients struggling with complex issues are more likely to display erratic and aggressive behavior. As a result, therapists can be at an increased risk of experiencing violence or intimidation in the workplace.

Panic buttons help to keep employees safe and ensure help is available as quickly as possible in an emergency. Commonly used in both the hospitality and healthcare industries, they allow staff to call for help instantly if they feel threatened or if they suffer a medical emergency.

Worker protection and employee safety are becoming increasingly important topics in the hotel industry. The #MeToo movement, along with a number of high profile cases, highlighted the endemic violence and harassment faced by many in the sector, with some research suggesting up to 9 in 10 hotel workers had experienced sexual harassment at some point in their careers. What’s more, many studies show that the Covid-19 pandemic has made things even worse, with antisocial behavior directly linked to mask wearing and other hygiene issues becoming hot button issues both inside and outside the hospitality industry.

Safety Precautions in a Psychiatric Units: Keeping Psychiatric Nurses / NPs Safe

Health care workers in the U.S. face an array of complex challenges on a daily basis, and psychiatric hospitals can be particularly high risk environments for both patients and nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs). The safety culture and risk factors involved with any given mental health unit vary on a case-by-case basis. But facilitating a safe environment and ensuring that the nursing staff providing psychiatric care are safe from harm is essential and should always be the top priority for psychiatric services and mental health facilities nationwide.

The US hotel industry is incredibly diverse. Ranging from small, family-run guesthouses to large international hotel chains, the sector is one of the cornerstones of the country’s economy. However, while there is a huge amount of variety within the industry, there are a number of issues that most hotel owners and managers will face at some point in their careers.