Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107931

Nancy M. Nachreiner, PhD, MPH, BSN¹, Helen E. Hansen, PhD², Akiko Okano, RN², Susan G. Gerberich, PhD¹, Andrew D. Ryan, MS³, Patricia M. McGovern, PhD¹, and Timothy R. Church, PhD⁴. (1) Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, MMC 807, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-625-2487, nachr001@umn.edu, (2) School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6-107 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard St., Minneapolis, MN 55455, (3) School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 807, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (4) Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 807, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Purpose: Assess the relation of nurse license type and work-related violence. Methods: Data were collected from a random sample of licensed Minnesota nurses for a 12-month period. Nurses self-reported violent events through comprehensive written surveys. Results: The adjusted annual rates of physical violence were 12.0 and 16.4 per 100 persons for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), respectively; non-physical violence rates were 38.5 and 39.7. Some exposures were consistent, and resulted in increased risks for both RNs and LPNs; respective ORs and 95% CIs are presented: working in primarily psychiatric/behavioral departments (physical violence: RNs: 2.3, 1.6-3.5; LPNs: 1.8, 1.1-3.0; non-physical: RNs: 3.1, 2.2-4.4; LPNs: 2.2, 1.4-3.4), and working in long-term care facilities (physical: RNs: 2.1, 1.6-2.8; LPNs: 3.8, 2.3-6.4; non-physical: RNs: 1.4, 1.1-1.8; LPNs: 1.5, 1.0-2.1). Risk of physical violence increased for LPNs supervising care (OR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2-6.6); while risk increased for RNs providing care (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.6). Risk of physical assault decreased for RNs working primarily with children (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2-0.6), while LPNs' risk increased (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-7.8). Recent RN graduates had an increased risk of physical assault (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.3), while the risk for recent LPN graduates appeared to decrease (OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.4-1.6). Conclusions: Work-related violence is an important problem for nurses. Some risks appear to vary by license type. Further study of specific risk and protective factors may lead to more efficacious interventions targeting factors specific to license type.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the magnitude of the violence problem against Minnesota nurses;
• List 2 factors that increase the risk of violence against Registered Nurses; and
• List 2 factors that increase the risk of violence against Licensed Practical Nurses.

Keywords: Violence, Nurses

Related Web page: www.umn.edu/cvpc/research.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.