Keeping community nurses safe from harm

Lone workers in community settings can be vulnerable to abuse. Dean Gurden looks at how to mitigate the risks and keep these people safe

In 2015, an RCN survey of more than 1,300 nurses working in community-based roles found that 48% had been subjected to some form of abuse in the previous 2 years.

And almost one in ten respondents said they feel vulnerable some or all of the time.

So what can be done to mitigate the risks for lone workers in the community, and what policies and guidance exist to protect them?

The NHS lone worker guidance and the