More than a Statistic: The Human Cost of Healthcare Violence

“Years ago, I bartended in a strip club, followed by a stint at Hooters. None of the violence I’ve been subjected to as a nurse would EVER be tolerated at either of those places…It’s so sad to me that I was better supported and protected in those jobs than I am as a ‘professional’ nurse.”

Workplace violence in healthcare is a pervasive and long-standing problem that often goes underreported. It’s a crisis that existed long before the COVID-19 pandemic, which only exacerbated existing stresses within the system. The unfortunate truth is that many healthcare professionals have come to believe that a certain level of violence is simply “part of the job.” The quote above, found in an online forum, encapsulates some of the themes we frequently hear from clinical care providers. This mindset is even sometimes explicitly reinforced by supervisors. This dangerous belief often leads to the underreporting of violent incidents.

The data paint a stark picture of a profession in peril.

The Shocking Reality of Healthcare Violence

Violence against healthcare workers isn’t just a recent trend; it’s a deeply entrenched issue. Back in 2016, a New England Journal of Medicine article described it as “ubiquitous” (Phillips, 2016). The statistics, a mix of recent and historical data (intentionally predating the COVID-19 pandemic), reveal the true extent of the problem:

A 2014 study of emergency room staff found that 80% had experienced physical violence during their careers. Despite this, only 49% of these incidents were reported to the police (Furin et al, 2015).
Healthcare professionals are four times more likely to need time off due to violence than from other injuries (Byon et al, 2021).
In 2018, healthcare workers accounted for a staggering 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses from violence. This is a higher percentage than occupations often considered more dangerous, such as police officers and prison staff (U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, Workplace Violence In Healthcare, 2018).
According to healthcare survey company Press Ganey, an average of two nurses are assaulted every hour in the United States (Press Ganey’s National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®).

It’s important to remember that these statistics likely underrepresent the actual prevalence due to widespread underreporting, which is likely influenced by a culture of silence.

The Profound Impact of Violence on Workers and Care

The effects of violence extend far beyond physical injury. The toll on healthcare professionals is immense, leading to a host of mental and emotional health problems, as well as broader issues within the healthcare system.

A 2022 study (Lim et al) revealed that healthcare professionals who experienced violence suffered from:

Emotional and psychological distress: This includes demoralization, depression, loss of self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and irritability.
Physical symptoms: Such as problems sleeping and difficulty concentrating.
Trauma: Reliving the trauma and feeling emotionally upset.

The impact also extends to the workplace itself, leading to:

A decline in the quality of care delivered to patients.
Increased absenteeism.
Healthcare workers making the difficult decision to leave the profession altogether.

The cycle is clear: violence harms workers, which in turn compromises patient care and drives skilled professionals out of the field. Addressing this crisis is not just about protecting individuals; it’s about safeguarding the future of healthcare itself.

Supporting people who have experienced healthcare violence means refusing to normalize harm in places meant for healing. It means listening to their stories without judgment, validating the pain they carry, and working to restore a sense of safety and trust that should never have been taken from them. It is a commitment to walk beside them, to ensure they are not silenced. True support is not only compassion in the aftermath but the courage to confront the structures that allowed the violence to happen.

References:

Byon, H. D., Sagherian, K., Kim, Y., Lipscomb, J., Crandall, M., & Steege, L. (2021). Nurses’ experience withtype II workplace violence and underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workplace Health & Safety, 70(9), 412–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799211031233
Furin, M., Eliseo, L. J., Langlois, B., Fernandez, W. G., Mitchell, P., & Dyer, K. S. (2015). Self-reported provider safety in an urban emergency medical system. The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 16(3), 459–464. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2015.2.24124
Lim, M. C., Jeffree, M. S., Saupin, S. S., Giloi, N., & Lukman, K. A. (2022). Workplace violence in healthcare settings: The risk factors, implications and collaborative preventive measures. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103727
Phillips, J. P. (2016). Workplace violence against health care workers in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 374(17), 1661–1669. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra1501998
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2018). Workplace violence in healthcare. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/workplace-violence-healthcare-2018.html