Caregivers’ Concerns – Age-Group Issues on Workplace Violence

The issue of workplace violence (WPV) around the world can be characterized as workplace terrorism. The health care industry is the most important industry that manages, promotes and ensures wellness of its people. Therefore, issues concerning its caregivers should not be underemphasized. The whole world is fighting seriously to eliminate terrorism, so reduction and elimination of WPV in the healthcare industry should be a major concern to everyone. This study investigates the age group among long term care facilities’ nurses and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)’s that have experienced WPV most during the performance of their duties. Eighty caregivers from three facilities in Greensboro, North Carolina participated in the study. Caregivers were grouped into four age-group categories. Group one was nurses and CNA's from the age of 18 – 25 years old, group two from 26 - 35, group three from 36 – 45, and group four from 46 and above. Thirty-two of the participants fall into age group four, 19 falls into age group three, 20 into age group two and 9 into age group one. Every participant has a minimum of seven years and maximum of ten years’ work experience in long-term facility. Participants were predominantly Black or African-American and Caucasian. Results revealed that 78% of the nurses and CNAs in group one have experienced WVP, followed by group three 70%, and group four 63%. A statically significant difference was found in the number of nurses and CNAs that falls in age group three and group one (t= 2.014, df = 45; p = 0.019) and (t=2.12; df = 16; p = 0.017) respectively. The findings from this study could help identify the age groups that are predominantly exposed to WPV and how WPV training should be designed differently for the age groups.