The Different Faces of Violence and Aggression in Healthcare

Violence and aggression in the workplace pose a serious threat to employees, with many negative consequences for both the employee and the organization. In the healthcare sector, employees are increasingly experiencing aggression from patients. This chapter presents an analysis of previous publications that have addressed the issue of workplace safety in healthcare. Previous research on patient aggression toward healthcare workers reveals the powerlessness and loneliness of healthcare workers in the face of this phenomenon. This is despite the high costs to workers, their families, employers and even society. There are no adequate legal provisions or even organizational procedures that effectively prevent or support workers in the fight against aggressive patient behavior. Research shows that emergency department workers are among the most vulnerable professionals in this regard. Despite these findings, it is difficult to determine the extent of the problem and its impact on all key stakeholders.