A survey of 1321 Australian Nursing Federation Victorian members (including both nurses and personal care workers) found a clear link between cost-cutting and aggression from residents towards carers and carers towards residents. The results suggest that on average nursing home employees experience being yelled at by a resident, threatened with an object such as a walking stick, or hit with an object such as a saucer or cup approximately four times a year. Nurses and personal carers also report observing other employees acting aggressively towards residents on average twice a year. This exposure to aggression contributes to negative care consequences for residents and negative mental health consequences for union members.
The researchers believe that it is crucial that this situation is addressed. Developing interventions that reduce job stress may be an important way forward. Four types of interventions may be effective: (1) the reduction of cost-cutting; (2) related to this is the management of workloads; (3) managing the stress experienced from caring for residents that are aggressive; (4) developing mechanisms to facilitate employees voicing concerns regarding witnessing co-worker aggression. The findings from the study are currently being disseminated to Government and other peak bodies throughout Australia and internationally through conferences and academic publications. Further research is needed to investigate the long term effects of working in this type of climate, as well as examining the experience of residents.
This report was published in 2007.
Leisa Sargent, Bill Harley and Belinda Allen
Department of Management and Marketing
The University of Melbourne
