Safety at Work PDF

Safety at Work Ms Hosu Ryu Lecturer in Nursing CRICOS PROVIDER 00115M  latrobe.edu.au Learning Objectives Physical safety Psychological safety ...

Safety at Work Ms Hosu Ryu Lecturer in Nursing CRICOS PROVIDER 00115M  latrobe.edu.au Learning Objectives Physical safety Psychological safety  latrobe.edu.au Is working in mental health dangerous?  National and international research has identified certain settings where occupational violence is more likely to occur. These include: emergency departments mental health settings drug and alcohol clinics paramedic call outs aged care settings maternity wards intensive care units the areas where high stress incidents occur or where there are few staff and limited support.  latrobe.edu.au De-escalation Agitation Aggression Violence  latrobe.edu.au De-escalation: what to do 1. Appear calm, centred and self-assured... even though you might not feel that way! 2. Remember you are not trying to do anything except calm the person down 3. Use a modulated, low and monotonous tone of voice 4. Treat the person with dignity and respect; ignore insults and don't be judgemental 5. Allow extra physical space between you – about four times your usual distance 6. Empathise with feelings but not with the behaviour (eg "I understand that you are upset, but it is not okay for you to get in the way”) 7. Ask questions like “Help me to understand what you are upset about …” rather than "how are you feeling?" 8. Suggest simple alternatives eg "Let's move over there where we can see better" 9. Give choices where possible in which both alternatives are positive and safe (e.g. “Would you like me to take you to a taxi so you can go to the hospital and be there with your friend, or would you prefer to go home first?”) 10. Stay safe and know you have the choice to leave at any time.  latrobe.edu.au De-escalation: What not to do 1. Don't rush in; take a few moments to assess the situation, look at the person's body language, listen to their tone of voice and make a plan (including how to get away if things get out of hand) 2. Don't get loud or try to yell over a screaming person 3. Don't ask how a person is feeling or try to interpret their feelings 4. Don't respond to abusive questions... just ignore them 5. DO NOT SMILE... this could be misinterpreted as mockery 6. Do not touch, even though touching may seem appropriate and usual in your peer group; agitated people may misinterpret physical contact as hostile or threatening 7. Do not argue or try to convince... give choices, not explanations 8. Keep your hands out of your pockets, up and available to protect yourself 9. Don't point or shake your finger 10. Avoid constant eye contact; allow the person to break their gaze and look away  latrobe.edu.au Other support  Adequate staffing  Adequate training  Post-incident staff support  Staff support (employment assistance program)  Correct incident report data and follow-up  Systemic support  latrobe.edu.au Safewards  latrobe.edu.au Workplace stress When we feel that the demands placed on us exceeds the resources needed to respond Physiological reaction: changes to heart rate, blood pressure and the gastrointestinal tract. Prolonged stress can modify your gene (telomere) A healthy level of stress can make someone focused, and also can be a catalyst for positive change.  latrobe.edu.au Emotional labour  Witnessing human distress and suffering (vicarious trauma)  Feeling and expressing compassion  Managing one’s emotion at the same time as managing the emotion (particularly anxiety and distress) of others  Countertransference  Interaction where the nurses perceives higher level of stress and a strong sense of responsibility for consumer outcomes  Managing crisis situations  Conflict between professional identity vs personal identity- ethical dilemmas  Feeling blamed or burdened…  latrobe.edu.au Self-care  Work-life balance  Sleep, rest, exercise and diet  Psychological strategies- meaning making, self-compassion, spiritual care  General healthcare  latrobe.edu.au Clinical supervision  Professional alliance (supervisor & supervisee) where supervisee reflects upon their practice  Often for mental health workers (psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health nurses, social workers, counsellors..)  to enhance supervisees' skills, competence and confidence  to provide a reflective space and emotional support  to provide assistance with professional development  to ensure that services to clients is safe, ethical and competent  to ensure compliance with professional and organisational treatment standards & practice  latrobe.edu.au Resilience  A process of positively adapting to adversity and regaining a sense of wellbeing after stressful situation and difficult events  We already have our own innate and developed resources and skills on managing our thoughts, emotions, reponses to challenging situations  The skills of reflection, self-awareness, emotional regulation, social awareness and skilled relationship management support mental health nurses’ therapeutic use of self.  latrobe.edu.au Maintaining a satisfying career  Keep learning!  First year of your career does not define your whole nursing career. See things as a learning opportunity.  Look after yourself, and make it sustainable.  Let’s continue this conversation in NSG3EPN in second semester.  latrobe.edu.au  Ambulance Tasmania (n.d) De-escalation techniques https://www.ambulance.tas.gov.au/community_information/handsoff/de- escalation_techniques  Department of health & human services (n.d.) https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/safewards  Foster, K., Marks, P., O’Brien, A. & Raeburn, T. (2021) Mental Health in Nursing, theory and practice for clinical settings, Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia