How to Cope With Increased Workplace Violence in Healthcare

Even before COVID-19, violence against healthcare workers was reaching epidemic proportions. The pandemic just made things worse.

One-fifth of U.S. registered nurses said they were subject to increased workplace violence in 2020,¹ while as many of 68% of nurses reported physical and verbal abuse between February and June 2022.²

And while nurses are perhaps the most vulnerable, all healthcare professionals at hospitals — clinicians, nurses, technicians, support staff and administrators — are at risk.

The problem has contributed to the departure of healthcare professionals as the pressures mount on the already stressed system: By 2023, the industry will face a shortfall of 1.1 million nurses, along with other healthcare workers.³

Looking for solutions

The issue is being tackled on multiple fronts. Healthcare organizations are lobbying Congress to pass laws that criminalize assault and intimidation for healthcare workers (similar to laws that protect airline employees).

Community-based social service groups are partnering with healthcare organizations. For instance, a Springfield, Mass., hospital-based violence prevention program, Better Tomorrow, aims to connect victims with community services and devise preventive strategies.

Ultimately, however, the immediate need is to reinforce the first lines of defense at the healthcare workplace itself.

Managing risk of violence takes an enterprise-wide perspective

The risk of violence in healthcare is growing, but its impact has not yet affected insurance, in terms of the availability and cost of general liability (and management liability, to some extent) and workers’ compensation coverage.

That doesn’t preclude the need for healthcare organizations to improve precautionary training and strengthen safety measures, while following best practices. The key is implementing an enterprise-wide, multi-disciplinary program to manage risk and advance a culture of safety and quality.

The Joint Commission’s new and revised standards for workplace violence prevention provide a best-practices blueprint.⁴ Standards include hospitals having a multidisciplinary team manage a violence prevention program, and providing regular education and training on violence intervention and de-escalation. The emphasis is on prevention, recognition, response and reporting.

Every workplace violence prevention program needs to be built on a better understanding of risk. This means identifying and understanding all of the possible triggers, such as the fact that violence from a patient often requires different mitigation strategies than violence from an intruder. It also means implementing safeguards like tighter security in parking lots and at entrances and exits.

It’s challenging to prepare mitigation plans for situations as unpredictable as those resulting in violence against a nurse, doctor or hospital aide. Consulting with a risk manager and insurance broker will help guide hospitals towards improved safety against workplace violence, lower risk and help keep long-term insurance rates manageable.

HUB International’s healthcare experts are ready to help your organization respond to the opportunities and risks in a constantly changing healthcare environment.

¹ Nurse.org, “Nurses Say Violent Assaults Against Healthcare Workers Are a Silent Epidemic,” October 11, 2021.
² Sage Journals, “Nurses’ Experience With Type II Workplace Violence and Underreporting During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” August 3, 2021.
³ American Hospital Association, “AHA Letter Re: Challenges Facing America’s Health Care Workers as the U.S. Enters Third Year of COVID-19 Pandemic,” March 1, 2022.
⁴ Joint Commission, “R3 Report: Workplace Violence Prevention Standards,” June 18, 2021.