Workplace violence in home health
Goering to develop student competencies for prevention
Workplace violence just doesn’t take place in offices and hospitals. It can also happen in homes where people receive health care.
“Despite the growing prevalence of violence in home care settings, fewer than 40% of home health care workers report such incidents, meaning the actual number is likely much higher,” said Assistant Professor Ladawna Goering, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, CNE, BC-ADM, CDP. “Although workplace violence prevention training has gained traction within health care institutions in recent years, the focus has remained on inpatient environments, neglecting the home care sector’s specific needs.”
Goering will use a $10,000 Dean’s Research Award to develop a comprehensive set of competencies designed to protect health care professionals who work in patients’ homes in her research project, “Workplace Violence Prevention Competency Development for Home Safety Protection for Health Care Professionals.” She is the adult/gerontology primary care nurse practitioner track coordinator at the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston and a full associate member of the UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging.
The year-long project that launched in August will shape evidence-based guidelines with input from a panel of specialists from the Gerontology Advanced Practice Nurses Association and its House Calls/Community Special Interest Group. She is also working in close collaboration with the UT Police to conduct her research.
“This project is vital to providing safety training to nurse practitioner students before they enter clinical rotations in a home setting,” said Goering. “By developing these competencies, we can better equip them with the tools they need to stay safe.”
The project will initially focus on nursing, but future studies will explore applicability to other disciplines, including occupational and physical therapy and public health professionals. By extending the training to interdisciplinary professionals, the project aims to ensure a safer working environment for all who provide care in the home.
“We hope this initiative is a crucial step forward in safeguarding home care providers, ensuring that workplace violence prevention becomes a standard part of training for all health care professionals working in this high-risk setting,” said Goering.
Laura Frnka-Davis
