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Workplace Violence Prevention

Nurses outside capiotl building in Washington, D.C. holding signs for work place violence prevention bill

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.

Signs "Workplace Violence Puts Everyone at Risk"

The State of Workplace Violence in Health Care in 2025-2026

Health care workers have been experiencing a surge in workplace violence rates nationally since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. This report analyzes new survey data, collected from 1,267 RNs working in 28 states and D.C. between July 2025 and May 2026, regarding nurses’ recent experiences of workplace violence.

Examining the Impact of the Cal/OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Standard

Read our case studies examining the incident and injury rates before and after implementation of prevention measures, which were won by union nurse advocacy and enforcement of the Cal/OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Standard.

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.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin in front of podium.

Workplace Violence Prevention: Safe Staffing is a Key Measure

Workplace violence is significantly more likely to happen when units are short-staffed and when nurses have heavy workloads. Read our fact sheet to learn more.

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

Five nurses outside hospital. One holds sign "Let's bargain for a contract that is putting SAFETY FIRST for all"

Wichita nurses to hold one-day strike for patient and staff safety

Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph hospitals in Wichita, Kan., will hold a one-day strike on July 6 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ well-documented concerns about patient safety and workplace violence protection as part of contract negotiations.
Signs "Workplace Violence Puts Everyone at Risk"

NNU report finds a majority of nurses experienced workplace violence in the past year

Health care workers have been experiencing a surge in workplace violence rates nationally since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, building on already rising rates in previous years. A nationwide survey conducted by National Nurses United found that the majority of nurses have experienced workplace violence and nearly one-third have seen a rise in rates in the past year.
Large group of nurses outside hospital, wearing blud scrubs, smiling, and giving thumbs up

HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital nurses to hold informational picket for patient safety

Registered nurses at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., will hold an informational picket on Tuesday, June 2, to highlight their patient safety concerns, including short-staffing and management’s failure to address workplace violence.
Group of nurses outside hospital, smiling, raised fists, holding banner "SSM Health: Invest in Patient Care"

St. Louis nurses rally to demand SLU Hospital take immediate action on safe staffing and workplace violence prevention

Registered nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., will hold a rally on Tuesday, Dec. 23, to highlight chronic short staffing and ongoing safety concerns that SSM Health has repeatedly refused to address.
All workplace violence press releases