May 6 -12, 2023 is Nurses Week. Nurses Week is a time to celebrate all nurses and the important work they do on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, violence in the workplace has become so common that it is now considered an unpleasant part of the job and ignored instead of being reported and addressed. Nurses should be educated appropriately against WPV as well as be equipped for such incidents.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) can be a useful skill for nurses to have as it can help them defend themselves in case of on-the-job violence. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social assistance workers, including nurses, experience some of the highest rates of workplace violence in the United States.
Here are some statistics related to workplace violence experienced by nurses:
- According to a 2018 survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association, 68% of emergency department nurses reported experiencing workplace violence during their careers.
- A study published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing found that 26.8% of emergency department nurses had experienced physical violence in the workplace in the past 12 months.
- A 2016 study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that 25% of nurses in the United States had experienced physical violence at work in the past year.
Nurses must find ways to prioritize patient safety while also keeping themselves safe and protected from workplace violence. Nurses have to be tolerant, aware, but also prepared for any threats.
Having training in BJJ can help nurses protect themselves in case of physical violence, as BJJ techniques involve grappling and submission holds that can help even a smaller person defend themselves against a larger attacker. However, it is important to note that using physical force to defend oneself should always be a last resort and that nurses should receive proper training and certification before attempting to use any self-defense techniques. BJJ for nurses is a very useful training and it is highly recommended for those in the medical profession.
Unlike many other sports and physical activities, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is unique that it can be done by anyone, making a perfect self-defense training even for busy nurses, regardless of age, gender, size, or physical limitations. Sign up and start learning self-defense at Global1BJJ for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. BJJ classes are offered at various times Mondays to Sundays, in both Gi and No-Gi.