Workplace Violence Prevention

Large group of nurses outside the Capitol Building with signs calling for workplace violence prevention.

Nurses applaud introduction of federal legislation to prevent workplace violence in health care, social service settings

The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act sets the high standard to protect workers and patients.

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

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 Northern California Kaiser nurses who have been working on mitigating and preventing workplace violence at their facilities.

H.R. 1195 fact sheet

Learn more about the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act by reading our fact sheet.

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.

The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act would require health care and social service employers to implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, protecting frontline workers like nurses from the very real hazards of the job.

Tell congress to pass this legislation!

Press releases

The tragic loss of two health care workers, including one nurse, in Dallas, Texas, who were killed on Saturday at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, demonstrates the importance of passing the pending workplace violence prevention legislation in the U.S. Senate.
RNs at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (ABSMC) in Oakland and Berkeley will hold a five-day strike from Oct. 24 through Oct. 28 in response to persistent patient care issues, including workplace violence and high turnover rates.
Registered nurses at ABSMC in Oakland and Berkeley issued a 10-day notice to Sutter Health to inform hospital administration that nurses intend to hold a five-day strike in response to persistent patient care issues, including workplace violence and high turnover rates.
A group of organizations representing millions of women across the country is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, a bill that would protect health care and social service workers from violence on the job.