There is an alarming truth about workplace violence in the healthcare sector, it’s not just happening, but from current research it is accelerating. Doctors are assaulted, nurses are spat at, and receptionists continually threatened over wait times. For healthcare workers this isn’t news, it’s just another day in the office.
According to a 2024 CDC Report, workplace violence now accounts for nearly 75 percent of all nonfatal injuries from workplace assaults in the U.S., and healthcare workers are four to five times more likely to be attacked on the job than employees in other industries. The same report found that the percentage of healthcare workers reporting workplace harassment doubled between 2018 and 2023. The American Department of Emergency Physicians reported that in emergency departments, 91 percent of ER physicians have reported being physically threatened or assaulted in the past year alone. Meanwhile, the National Nurse United, an advocacy network, released a report that revealed over 80 percent of nurses surveyed in 2024 faced at least one episode of workplace violence, and nearly half said it’s getting worse.
Despite the staggering numbers, these figures still underestimate the problem. Underreporting is rampant. Many healthcare workers don’t file official reports because they fear nothing will change or believe violence is just part of the job.
Workplace violence comes in all forms. The FBI classifies it into four categories: criminal intent with no prior relationship to the workplace (Type 1), violence from patients or visitors (Type 2), employee-on-employee incidents (Type 3), and violence from someone with a personal relationship to a staff member, like a partner (Type 4). Type 2 is by far the most common in healthcare, and it’s often driven by patient frustration, long wait times, pain or confusion. But aggression from colleagues and domestic partners also finds its way through hospital doors.
And these aren’t just isolated flashes of aggression. Staff have been bruised, scratched and concussed. Some are hospitalized by patient attacks. Others are harassed and stalked. In extreme cases, healthcare workers have been killed. The Joint Commission issued an alert in 2022 calling workplace violence a "critical safety issue," and more recently updated its accreditation requirements to include mandatory violence prevention programs.
First, they must set a clear, non-negotiable zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse or aggression. This policy must be visible and backed up by action, not just a document in a binder. Staff, patients and visitors need to know that verbal abuse, threats or physical aggression will result in consequences. This alone helps shift culture.
Second, invest in practical environmental design and infrastructure. Use secure reception layouts, panic buttons, clear lines of sight in waiting areas and monitored CCTV. Control access where needed and provide personal safety devices to staff who work alone or in volatile departments. Lighting, signage and visible security presence can also help de-escalate situations before they ignite.
Third, train your people, not just once, but continuously. Start with onboarding induction programs that explain how to recognize escalating behavior, manage aggression and safely exit volatile scenarios. Annual refreshers and tailored training for high-risk teams (like emergency or psychiatric units) are key. Some organizations include scenario-based training and personal safety tactics, including breakaway and restraint techniques for designated staff.
Fourth, build a trusted reporting system. Staff must feel safe and supported in reporting any incident. That means confidential channels, non-retaliation protections and clear communication about how reports are handled. An effective reporting culture allows organizations to identify patterns and intervene early.
Finally, offer support. Violence takes a mental and emotional toll. Staff should have access to debriefing, psychological counseling and legal assistance, when needed. Organizations must treat recovery and follow-up as seriously as physical injuries.
The message is simple: if we want to keep the healthcare system running, we need to protect the people who keep it alive. Safety isn’t a luxury - it’s a foundation. Violence should never be part of the job.
