VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION IN NZ EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

There continues to be a rising incidence of violence and aggression within healthcare settings; this is neither new nor surprising. What is (or should be) surprising, is the level of acceptance with which we approach the elements that contribute to this. A significant number of events are reported but there seems little doubt that an even greater number go unreported. The reasons for this are complex, and the responses equally so. What needs to be considered, however, is the impact of a continuing workplace culture where certain aspects of violence have become normalised; where, as a profession, emergency nurses have accepted and, by default condoned the actions that contribute to this. A review of the conceptual and practical aspects associated with this topic are briefly presented, to raise awareness and stimulate further discussion. Why are nurses willing to accept so much, and how bad do things need to get before we are prepared to make changes? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]