Workplace Violence Against Nurses: The Data, Your Rights, and What Hospitals Must Do
"It's part of the job" isn't an answer. The numbers, and the accreditation standards, say so.
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Being hit, grabbed, spat on, threatened or screamed at should never be part of the job. It happens far too often anyway.
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Federal injury data make the scale clear. In 2018, workers in private health care and social assistance had an incidence rate of 10.4 nonfatal injuries from intentional violence by another person (with days away from work) per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 2.1 for all workers. BLS describes them as five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury. Health care workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence that year. Rates were higher still in hospitals (12.8) and psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals (124.9) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Workplace Violence in Healthcare, 2018, bls.gov/iif/factsheets/workplace-violence-healthcare-2018.ht). The Joint Commission reports the industry rate rose to 15.2 per 10,000 by 2020 (Joint Commission, Preventing Workplace Violence, jointcommission.org/en-us/standards/national-performance-goa). OSHA notes that many more incidents probably go unreported (OSHA, Healthcare: Workplace Violence, osha.gov/healthcare/workplace-violence).
Accredited hospitals have obligations. Joint Commission standards require a workplace violence prevention program led by a designated person, a way to report and analyze incidents, follow-up support for victims and witnesses, training at hire and annually (including de-escalation), and an annual worksite analysis with action on the findings (Joint Commission, NPG 2026, NPG.02.04.01, digitalassets.jointcommission.org/api/public/content/9ca8005).
Educational note: This is general safety information, not legal advice. Reporting requirements and protections vary by state and employer.
Practical takeaways:
- Report every incident, including verbal abuse and threats. Reports drive the worksite analysis and the resources that follow.
- Know your hospital's prevention program lead, your security number, and how to call for help fast.
- Ask for (or refresh) de-escalation training, which accredited hospitals must provide.
- After an incident, use the support your hospital must offer (counseling, follow-up), and consider whether to involve law enforcement.
- Bring hot spots (a door, a waiting area, a time of night) to your safety committee.
Sources: BLS (2018), Joint Commission (NPG page and NPG 2026), OSHA, links above · NIOSH free course "Workplace Violence Prevention for Nurses" (listed on the OSHA page) Related: /new-grads/lateral-violence-in-nursing/ (coworker incivility)