A majority of nurses report experiencing workplace violence, with many saying employers have not taken enough action to prevent incidents, according to a new survey from National Nurses United (NNU). The findings show workplace violence remains a persistent safety issue in health care settings, affecting both workers and patient care.
More Than 8 In 10 Nurses Report Experiencing Violence
The survey found that 84.8% of nurses experienced at least one form of workplace violence in the previous year.
Verbal threats were the most common, with 70.3% of nurses reporting they had been threatened. Many also reported physical incidents, including being hit, kicked, scratched, pinched, or having objects thrown at them.
More than one-third of nurses (36.4%) said workplace violence increased on their unit over the previous year, compared with just 6.8% who reported a decline.
Nurses cited several factors contributing to violence, including staffing shortages, limited security resources, management support gaps, and rising stress among patients and families.
Violence Is Taking a Toll on Nurses’ Health and Retention
The impact extends beyond individual incidents. Nearly one-quarter of nurses (23.4%) reported physical injuries or symptoms related to workplace violence.
Mental health effects were also widespread. About 63% of nurses said workplace violence caused anxiety, fear, or increased vigilance, while 11.8% said the psychological effects prevented them from working.
The survey found workplace violence is also influencing career decisions. More than one-quarter of nurses (25.5%) said they had considered leaving the profession because of workplace violence, and 18.6% reported taking time off after an incident.
Employers Often Lack Effective Prevention Measures
Many nurses said their employers were not making meaningful changes after violent incidents occurred.
Nearly 43% reported their employer did not change workplace practices to reduce future risks, while 22.8% said employers ignored reports of violence.
Only 59% said their employer investigated incidents after they occurred. Some nurses reported being blamed or reprimanded after reporting violence.
Prevention measures also remain inconsistent. While 74.8% of nurses said they receive workplace violence training, fewer reported having additional protections in place.
Only 35.5% said staff were always available to respond to violent incidents, and 28.5% said additional staffing was used to reduce risks. Less than one-fifth of nurses reported being included in workplace violence risk assessments.
NNU is calling for a federal workplace violence prevention standard that would require health care employers to create and maintain formal prevention plans.
