Exploring Changes in the Existing Legal Regime Relating to Nursing

This essay explores the changes in the existing legal regime relating to nursing, focusing on the challenges nurses face, particularly workplace violence. It highlights the need for adequate protection and security for nurses given their diverse responsibilities. The essay discusses the inadequacy of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in addressing the rising cases of violence against healthcare workers. It suggests incorporating risk assessment procedures, providing appropriate training for handling violent patients, and offering guidance on staffing levels. The essay concludes by advocating for amendments to existing legislation or the promulgation of new laws to improve the working environment for nurses and ensure their safety and well-being. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

CHANGES IN THE EXISTING LEGAL
REGIME RELATING TO NURSING

Introduction
The foremost criteria and requirement to make any health care organization most effective in its
services is to make sure that ample amount of nurses are present with the required extent of
qualification and skill. As a nurse one has to undertake spectrum responsibilities that involves
within its ambit the core task of assisting the patients, general compliance with the procedures
have been achieved and many other related activities. While undertaking such diverse amount of
activities it also becomes essential that they are provided the desired level of protection and
security in respect of job that is being fulfilled by them. With the emergence of complexity in
the healthcare sector varied number of issues is also being faced by the nurses that have made it
very much problematic for them to continue with their responsibilities.
Challenge faced relating to workplace violence
One of the biggest problems and challenges that are being faced by the nurses while undertaking
their duty is to get violently attacked by aggressive patients and by their unreasonable behaviour.
In this regard it can be stated that nurses are being entrusted with the responsibility of taking care
of the patients in every aspect but this turns out to be very stressful under certain circumstances.
Like any other employees being engaged in any other sector it is the responsibility of the
organizational head to render the required amount of safety and security to the nurses as well. As
per the reports that have been submitted till date under RIDDOR cases relating to violent abuses
suffered by the attendants at the health and social care are much higher which makes it a matter
of great concern for the government (Black, 2016 ).
Health and safety at work Act 1974
The main purpose of this Act was to prevent any kind of incidental occupational hazards of the
employees in regard to the functions that are being undertaken within a particular establishment.
The provisions of this Act entrusted general duty upon an employer to look after the safety and
security of the working employees and that they are not discriminated upon at any cost. In
accordance to the same the health and safety executives in conformity to the local authorities are
required to fulfill the basic requirements of this legislation but still there has been an upsurge in
the present issue (Bishop, 2017 ). The Act lacks the provisions that should be abide by the care
authorities in relation to creating a healthy working environment for the staffs. In order to cope

up with this emerging issue it is necessary that procedures relating to risk assessment are being
incorporated, further more appropriate training is being provided to the nurses for dealing with
situations where the patients are acting violently and guidance relating to the number of staffing
and handling of any such patients should be further imbibed.
Bill containing the issue shall be passed on to the floors of both the houses as a consequence and
thereby with the required amendment to the concerned legislation or based on the growing
impact of this issue on the working of healthcare organisations new laws should be promulgated
(Parveen, Maimani & Kassim,2017, 238-242 ).

References
Bishop, V. (2017). Challenges in Clinical Practice: Professional developments in nursing.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Black, B. (2016). Professional Nursing-E-Book: Concepts & Challenges. Elsevier Health
Sciences.
Parveen, M., Maimani, K., & Kassim, N. M. (2017). A comparative study on job satisfaction
between registered nurses and other qualified healthcare professionals. International
Journal of Healthcare Management, 10(4), 238-242.