RCN publishes new safety guidance for lone working nurses

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has issued a new set of guidance to help nurses who are working alone to keep safe.

The guidance comes after a 2015 survey of RCN members highlighted almost half of community-based nursing staff had experienced abuse in the past two years.

The guidance outlined a range of lone-working situations such as one-to-one consultations and escorting a patient to different areas of the hospital. It has advised that such working conditions should prompt nurses to use safety alarms and other technology and receive training in personal safety and risk assessment.

Kim Sunley, senior employment relations advisor for the RCN, explained: “Nursing staff who work alone for long, or even short, periods of time are more vulnerable to physical and verbal abuse

“As more care is provided in the community, the number of nursing staff working alone will inevitably increase,” she said.

“Employers are bound by law to take appropriate measures to protect the safety of their employees, and nursing staff can also take practical steps to reduce risk.”

The document advised that: “While training alone will not reduce the incidence of violence, it is an essential part of an organisation’s approach to managing violence and aggression towards lone workers.”

It outlined that employers should have systems in place to support lone workers following an incident such as debriefing, investigating the incident and reviewing safety measures, and advice on accessing counselling and liaising with the police.

The guideline also recommended that nurses should make sure they are prepared for such situations and should get as much information as possible about a patient, particularly when going to an unfamiliar location.