1.4 Helen's Story
When nurses have experienced abuse by a colleague, it is necessary to identify the impact it has on the nurse and her ability to practice her profession safely and effectively, and on her sense of capacity and power in her own work environment. As described, there are many studies that have looked at the effect of verbal abuse on nurses' practice and health.
>> REFLECTION ACTIVITY:
What are some of the barriers that make it difficult for you to affect change within your work environment?
What are some of the opportunities in policy and practice that make it possible for you to affect changes within your work environment?
Over 90% of nurses have experience abuse in their workplace according to Cox (1987), Araujo & Sofield (1999) and Rosenstein (2002). This module introduced the concept of abuse within health care settings as a starting point for understanding the experience of abuse in the lives of patients they are caring for. Of course, nurses may be experiencing abuse in their intimate relationships as well.
Resource Link:
Health-Providers' Experiences of Abuse