According to a 2020 study, nearly a quarter of all physicians have experienced recent mistreatment. The most common source of the mistreatment is patients and their visitors. Unsurprisingly, the study also confirms that poor treatment of medical professionals is linked to higher levels of occupational distress. Yet, healthcare workers who believe their workplace system has protective measures in place to safeguard them against mistreatment have lower levels of occupational distress.
The NICU and other neonatal care settings can be stressful work environments in the first place. When treatment from neonates’ family members becomes a source of distress, it can make work near unbearable for NNPs. Here’s a closer look into how mistreatment affects your NNPs and what you can do to create a more protective work environment.
How Does Mistreatment Affect NNPs?
According to the aforementioned study, healthcare workers encountered mistreatment mostly from patients and their visitors, with 70.9% of all mistreatment events stemming from these sources. Colleagues were the second most common source for mistreatment. The most frequently reported type of mistreatment was verbal abuse.
The study also shows that healthcare workers who experienced any form of mistreatment were 129% more likely to report moderate or greater intent to leave their roles within two years. Mistreatment was also associated with other poor workplace outcomes, including increased burnout and decreases in professional fulfillment. Other effects of mistreatment include absenteeism, depression, anxiety, fatigue, fear, and sleep issues.
To make matters worse, a separate 2020 study shows that nurses already tend to face higher levels of stress due to the inherent nature of their work. Specifically, NNPs who care for infants with possible life-limiting conditions are significantly more likely to experience distress and compassion fatigue. It’s therefore critical that healthcare organizations do everything they can to limit or prevent any factors that could compound distress for their NNPs.
What Can You Do to Support NNPs Against Mistreatment?
The good news is that there are resources available to protect your healthcare staff against mistreatment. And, healthcare workers notice and appreciate it when these measures are in place. For example, healthcare workers who feel that they have a protective workplace system on their side are less likely to leave their roles.
One important protective quality identified in the study is the belief that bystanders will speak up or intervene upon witnessing mistreatment of healthcare workers. Another is the belief that employees are treated with respect and dignity. While these measures may seem simple and straightforward, it’s clear that they can go a long way in making your NNPs feel safe, valued, and protected against poor treatment.
To ensure your healthcare organization is doing its part to protect NNPs, start by pursuing training for all staff members to learn about unacceptable behavior and how to deal with it immediately. Make sure there are strong workplace policies in place that reflect these concepts. Focus especially on nurse managers and supervisors, and ensure they know how to help and support NNPs who report mistreatment.
Having a well-staffed hospital is one way to ensure NNPs don’t feel distressed or overwhelmed in their roles. Yet, current staffing shortages are making recruitment challenging. Ensearch supports your in house recruiting effort and identifies highly qualified candidates for your open positions. We also offer locum tenens staffing to support your existing team and prevent burnout until you onboard full time NNPs into your NICU. Find out more about our staffing solutions by completing a Comparative Needs Analysis today.
