Addressing the Issue of Potential Workplace Violence Events for Sonographers and Vascular Technologists

Abstract

Workplace violence is considered the act or threat of violence, exemplified by verbal threats and or physical threats perpetrated to an employee in the workplace. As part of the ongoing survey research being conducted, workplace violence events (WVEs), specific to sonographers and vascular technologists, were explored. These threats were further categorized based on the four types of WVE proposed by the Injury Prevention Research Center in 2001. Qualitative analysis of this survey data and voluntary comments, provided by study participants, were identified as condescending behavior, and being bullied as major workplace concerns. Further qualitative assessment of the comments resulted in identifying the added risk of Customer/client (Type 2) and Worker-on-worker (Type 3) WVEs, which are considered forms of verbal abuse. This information needs to be considered by each sonographer and vascular technologist and whether it is an issue in their workplace. In addition, a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program is advocated to address workplace incivility and promote worker health, safety, and well-being. Providing annual training is not enough, as workers need to have policies and resources readily available to address WVEs when they occur. These policies and resources should specifically address WVEs perpetrated by patients and co-workers.