– Being attacked physically does something to you right then and there. But when people say they know where you go for walks, where the kids go to school, where you live. It stays with you. – People feel free to threaten and attack me, but leave my family alone. Monica Fjeld is a nurse. She has worked at the emergency department at Nordlandssykehuset in Vesterålen for 15 years. There she welcomes both the mentally and physically seriously ill. – The worst case meant that I did not dare to go for a walk alone, says nurse Monica Fjeld. Monica Fjeld and Karl Einar Hanssen both have a long career in the health sector and are not surprised by the new report. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news In a recent report that was presented on Wednesday, 51 per cent of the Trade Union’s members who work in the health care system answer that they have experienced physical violence at work or in connection with work. 34 percent answer that they themselves, or their family, have been exposed to threats at least once. Fjeld, who is also the main shop steward for the Trade Union at the hospital in Stokmarknes, reacts strongly to that. – I find it frightening. That is not okay. We must do something to keep our employees safe. It must be safe to go to work. Under-reporting The topic of violence and threats in the healthcare system was in focus during the Trade Union’s Hospital Conference in Bodø today. The deputy chairman of the Trade Union, Odd-Haldgeir Larsen, says they take the figures seriously. The deputy chairman of the Trade Union, Odd-Haldgeir Larsen, believes there is a management problem. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news – We also think there is an underreporting here. According to Larsen, the focus has been on violence and threats both in Norway and internationally. He believes the figures must be taken seriously. – It is a management problem and the solution lies in the full-time issue and the number of hands in the health service. – Occurs when people are alone The trade union received a total of 4,583 responses to the survey. It is the first time that these questions have been asked of the members. Forbundet is Norway’s largest employee organization with over 400,000 members. Many of them work in the healthcare system, including in care for the elderly and in hospitals. Larsen emphasizes professional security among the employees. That you have colleagues you feel confident with, and a system that is rigged for eventualities. – We cannot escape such situations. We must be prepared when that happens. We will use this against the employers’ organisations, but also against the Government and the Storting. We need financial grants. The deputy leader points out that the doctor, porter, nurse and healthcare worker must stand together. Larsen believes the problems often arise in situations when people are alone. – Acts on instinct – It goes in waves, but some days we are constantly in it, says Karl Einar Hanssen. He is an assistant nurse at Akuttenhet Nord at Nordlandssykehuset. He is also a local shop steward for the Trade Union. – You shouldn’t be afraid of what meets you at work, says assistant nurse Karl Einar Hanssen. Photo: KÅRE RIIBE RAMSKJELL / news He is not surprised that 51 per cent of health workers who responded to the survey have experienced violence and threats. – In psychiatry it happens quite often. If people are admitted against their will and someone else takes control, there can be a lot of verbal, and a lot of physical, for example. You have instincts that say you must defend yourself. – “You against us” Hanssen has been in the job for 20 years. – I have spoken to people who have been outspoken both verbally and physically who are really embarrassed afterwards. While some justify it. It will be like “you against us”. Those who are oppressed and we who exercise power. – I have also received threats against myself and against the family, says Karl Einar Hanssen. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news And he has experienced a lot during his years in the job. – Kick in the head. Throttle ceiling. Punch. Something that is perhaps worse is the verbal. Being harassed for an hour straight before being relieved. The health professional believes that society has a great responsibility. – We have to do something about the promises that come. We need more hands. You are more vulnerable when you are alone. And you are very often alone. Then the worst comes out. We are chronically understaffed in psychiatry. According to Karl Einar Hanssen, those who work in psychiatry are particularly exposed to violence. Photo: KÅRE RIIBE RAMSKJELL / news – You should not be afraid of what meets you at work – I love my job. I can’t imagine working with anything else, says Monica Fjeld. Although she has experienced a lot during her years at the emergency department in Vesterålen, no one has taken their threats against her seriously. But threats still leave their mark. – The worst case meant that I didn’t dare to go on a trip alone. But I found a lot of good support in colleagues and friends. Monica Fjeld and Karl Einar Hanssen both have a long career in the health sector and are not surprised by the new report. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news Fjeld, like his colleague Karl Einar Hanssen, also points to several heads to prevent unwanted situations. – You should not be afraid of what meets you at work. We must be more. We must have training to be prepared. – There may be colleagues further down the hall, but you stand alone there and then. If you have experienced an episode of violence and threats, you may feel completely alone. Believes competence development is the solution Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) believes the figures are serious. – Our professionals must not be subjected to violence. We must nevertheless acknowledge that violence and threats against our own employees have been and are a challenge in parts of our joint health service. The solution is competence development, believes the Minister of Health. – Experience shows that perhaps the most effective measures are competence development among our professionals. She says we must learn how such situations can be avoided and how such situations should be handled when they arise. – I understand that you actively work with this in the specialist health service. The ministry adds that in 2017, the specialist health service was asked to collaborate with shop stewards and the protection service to develop measures to prevent and ensure preparedness for dealing with violence and threats. – Reporting systems were then also established to follow up developments in this area – and this is still followed up in the ministry’s reporting meetings with the regional health organisations, the ministry writes in an e-mail to news. ALSO READ:
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Over half of health workers in the Trade Union have experienced violence at work – news Nordland
