Protecting the safety of lone working nurses
Published: 09 July 2007
More than one-third of nurses working alone in the community in Northern Ireland have been assaulted or harassed during the last two years, according to a report published today by the RCN.
Based on a survey of nearly 1000 nurses across the United Kingdom, the report also indicates that 52% of nurses working alone feel that the threat of violence or abuse towards them has increased over the same period. The survey results are published on the same day the RCN launches its You’re not alone campaign, which calls on the government to honour its commitment to protect lone workers through funding appropriate training and technology.
RCN Northern Ireland Board Member and National Safety Representative Robert Moore said: “Due to an increase in community-based care, more nurses are working alone and caring for patients in their homes and away from other staff. We need to ensure that these nurses are properly protected, fully supported and feel secure. Employers have a duty to assess the work that nurses are doing and implement systems of work and other precautions to protect their safety. Establishing safe working for lone workers is no different from organising the safety of other employees working either in a group or under close supervision.
"The RCN welcomes the fact that our local politicians are now taking the issue of violence against health workers seriously. The Assembly has supported moves to introduce legislation to create a separate criminal offence in relation to such attacks. The Health Minister has also recently condemned such attacks and launched a new series of measures to address the problem. However, much of the focus has been upon attacks that take place in a hospital environment and it is important that we pay just as much attention to the dangers being faced by nurses who work alone.” The full report is available via the RCN website at www.rcn.org.uk/publications.