Violent Behavior

Violent Behavior

          Violent Behavior    Hostility and violence in the workplace adversely affect the performance of the affected persons. The early identification and response to violent behavior are crucial to safeguarding the security and health of others. Sorrentino and Remmert (2016) propose a sequence of steps to deal with a potentially violent coworker.

            The first step is for the victim to make anticipatory measures to ensure own security in case the aggressor attacks her. Some of the recommended measures include keeping a distance from the aggressor and avoiding contact in enclosed spaces. These measures allow one to escape easily and quickly if the aggressor decides to attack. Secondly, the victim should remain calm and act professionally when responding to the hostile person. A confrontational situation may deteriorate into violence if both parties start shouting at each and using offensive language. Therefore, the victim should allow the aggressor to speak and express his concerns, thoughts and feelings with minimal interruption. This step not only helps to calm the situation but also helps one to understand the potential underlying causes of the violent behavior. Thirdly, the victim should report the violent behavior to the relevant authorities (Gill, Fisher, & Bowie, 2015). For example, a nurse who encounters a violent colleague should report the incidence to the charge nurse or nurse manager. This step helps the organization to understand the violent situation and allocate the relevant resources to help the aggressor change his behavior. The organization may use internal or external resources depending on the aggressor’s needs and concerns.

            In conclusion, knowledge about the stages of intervention when dealing with a potentially violent person is crucial to promoting the health and productivity of individuals and groups.

References

Gill, M. L., Fisher, B., & Bowie, V. (2015). Violence at work: Causes, patterns and prevention.

            London: Routledge.

Sorrentino, S. A., & Remmert, L. N. (2016). Mosby’s textbook for nursing assistants. St. Louis,

            MO: Elsevier Health Sciences.