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Safety Tips for Mental Health Technicians
Psychiatric hospitals can be difficult places to work. Though many doctors, nurses, social workers and other mental health professionals find it deeply rewarding, there’s no denying that working with mental health patients can be challenging. According to figures published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2013, healthcare workers suffer four times the worker…
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How to Deal with Unacceptable Patient Behavior
TLDRUnacceptable patient behavior in clinical settings leads to more serious forms of violence against staff. However, by setting physical boundaries, involving co-workers, planning replies, and documenting patient behavior, you can successfully deescalate volatile situations. Remember, according to the American Medical Institute, your message should be “I care about you as a person, but I will…
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The Dangers of Working in a Psychiatric Hospital
TLDRPsychiatric hospital workers face elevated risks of patient assault, secondary traumatic stress, and physical injury — making healthcare and social assistance the highest-injury industry in the United States. Understanding these dangers, identifying triggers, and implementing safeguards like de-escalation training, improved facility design, and staff duress systems are essential steps toward creating a safer environment for…
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What are the Four Types of Workplace Violence?
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), ‘Workplace violence is the act or threat of violence, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults directed toward persons at work or on duty’. Workplace violence can come from customers, co-workers, and strangers and can occur in virtually all professional settings. Understanding this violence…
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Improving Staff Safety in Psychiatric Hospitals
TLDRPsychiatric hospitals present unique safety challenges — a 2023 National Nurses United survey found that 80% of hospital nurses have experienced verbal or physical violence on the job, with psychiatric settings among the highest-risk environments. Addressing this endemic violence requires a combination of regulation and monitoring, trend analysis of critical incidents, training in de-escalation, and…
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10 Safety Tips for Therapists
TLDRWorking one-on-one with patients behind closed doors often leaves therapists vulnerable to unpredictable behavior, physical violence, and harassment, especially when dealing with individuals experiencing acute mental health challenges. To address these risks, here I advocate for proactive safety measures like panic button systems, de-escalation training, secure office environments, and clear professional boundaries. These tools and…
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What Is a Wireless Panic Button and How Does It Work?
TLDRA wireless panic button is a wearable or portable device that allows employees to silently summon help in an emergency by pressing a single button. Used widely in healthcare, hospitality, and other industries where workers face elevated safety risks, panic button systems send real-time location data to security personnel, dramatically reducing response times. With panic…
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Hotel Panic Button Regulation and Compliance: Everything You Need to Know
Worker protection and employee safety are becoming increasingly important topics in the hotel industry. The #MeToo movement, along with a number of high-profile cases, highlighted the endemic violence and harassment faced by many in the sector, with some research suggesting up to 9 in 10 hotel workers had experienced sexual harassment at some point in their…
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Safety Precautions in a Psychiatric Unit — Keeping Psychiatric Nurses / NPs Safe
TLDRHealthcare workers in psychiatric units are at particularly high risk, and patients often need extra care. However, through understanding, de-escalation, and education, your staff can minimize dangerous situations to ensure that, in the words of the Joint Commission, everyone can “expect the safest and highest quality care.” Since the beginning of the ROAR journey back…
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The Cost of Hotel Staff Turnover
The US hotel industry is incredibly diverse. Ranging from small, family-run guesthouses to large international hotel chains, the sector is one of the cornerstones of the country’s economy. However, while there is a huge amount of variety within the industry, there are a number of issues that most hotel owners and managers will face at…
