TENNESSEE — Middle Tennessee hospitals are increasing security and teaching emergency room workers de-escalation techniques to combat a rise in ER violence.
Between eight and 13 percent of nurses are victims of physical violence every week, according to a survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association, The Tennessean reports. Another survey conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that violence in the ER committed by patients with drug and alcohol problems increased 31.5 percent from 2006 to 2008.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Summit Medical Center both have psychiatric wards, which workers at even more risk for violence.
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