Who are frequently identified as the assailants in a substantial portion of workplace violence within clinical settings?
Answer
Other patients, especially those experiencing mental health crises or delirium.
Workplace violence in healthcare is a growing issue, and while assaults from visitors do occur, a significant proportion of violence witnessed within clinical environments originates from the patients themselves. This is particularly true when patients are suffering from acute conditions such as severe mental health crises, delirium, or impairment due to substance influence. This dynamic creates a unique challenge because the assailant is the individual whom the staff member is simultaneously sworn to provide care and protection for, compounding the emotional injury alongside the physical threat.

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