Workplace Violence Prevention

Senator Tammy Baldwin at podium outside Capitol Building

New report: High and rising rates of workplace violence and employer failure to implement effective prevention strategies is contributing to the staffing crisis

NNU's survey results reveal majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence, with nearly half seeing a rise in rates in the past year.

Sign "Workplace Violence Puts Everyone at Risk"

Take NNU's Workplace Violence Survey

We want to hear your story. Your voice has a critical and powerful impact on our collective work. Take the workplace violence survey and share your experiences.

Group of nurses at podium

Workplace Violence and Covid-19 in Health Care: How the Hospital Industry Created an Occupational Syndemic

This report details stark evidence of how the dual failures of health care employers to protect nurses and patients from Covid-19 and workplace violence synergistically interact to amplify the harms caused by each individually.

Resources

Nurses outside capitol building hold signs calling for safe workplaces

What is workplace violence?

Workplace violence is an occupational hazard that occurs frequently in health care workplaces. It can be any act of violence or threat of violence that occurs within the worksite or while an employee is doing their job.

Nurses outside capitol building with raised fists

Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

Learn more about the bill would mandate that OSHA create a federal standard requiring health care and social service employers to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans.

Injury to None

This brief is a comprehensive overview of what workplace violence is, including summaries of the leading research to date on its prevalence, impacts, and prevention, and details how we are working to stop it.

Workplace violence prevention tips

Here’s advice from five nurses who have been working on mitigating and preventing workplace violence at their facilities.

California regulations are a model for the nation

In California, employers are required by law to have comprehensive, unit-specific workplace violence prevention plans in place.

We need your help to pass The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act and strengthen protections for health care workers in their workplaces. Take action by sending a letter to your members of Congress today.

Press releases

Nurses at the Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta VA Medical Center will hold a protest to call attention to their serious patient safety concerns, including ongoing short-staffing, poor security measures to prevent workplace violence, and a lack of leadership accountability.
A nationwide survey conducted by NNU found that the majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence and nearly half have seen a rise in rates in the past year.
Registered nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., will hold a strike for 24 hours from Sept. 25 to Sept. 26 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ deep concerns about patient care, safe staffing, and workplace violence.
RNs at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) will hold a public rally on Tuesday, Sept. 26 to demand that UCSF address critical and persistent patient care and workplace safety issues.