Workplace Violence in Nursing: When Will It End?
By Alice Benjamin, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C, Nurse.com
LinkedIn: Alice B.
LinkedIn: Nurse.com
If you’ve ever felt uneasy walking into a patient’s room or found yourself scanning for the nearest exits in case of trouble, you’re not alone.
As a nurse, I’ve had moments where a routine patient interaction suddenly turned hostile, forcing me to react quickly to protect myself. I’ve also seen colleagues bruised — physically and emotionally — after violent encounters with patients or their families.
The fear in those moments is real, and the anxiety lingers long after the shift ends. Yet, nurses are expected to continue their work, bearing the weight of these experiences and knowing it could happen again.
Workplace violence in nursing is a persistent issue that isn’t going away. Nurses and healthcare workers across the country are being assaulted and even killed.
According to Nurse.com’s 2024 Nurse Salary and Work-Life Report, 64% of nurses who responded to a survey reported having been subjected to verbal abuse by a patient or family member, and 23% had experienced physical assaults or abuse by a patient or family member.
What’s being done to protect the very people who dedicate their lives to saving others?
Tragic cases of workplace violence
I often wonder how many more incidents have to happen before real change occurs and how many more nurses will suffer before stronger protections are in place.
Recently, UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, became the site of a horrifying act of violence. On February 22, 2025, a 49-year-old man entered the hospital with a firearm and zip ties. Overcome with grief after learning that a loved one had died in the ICU, he stormed past security, took multiple healthcare workers hostage, and turned what should have been a place of healing into a battleground.
As panic spread through the hospital, nurses and physicians scrambled to protect patients and themselves. The situation escalated when police arrived, resulting in a standoff with the assailant. By the time it was over, a police officer had lost his life, while a doctor, a nurse, and a hospital custodian were critically injured.
On February 18, 2025, in yet another incident, a 67-year-old nurse was attacked by a patient she was caring for at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, according to news reports. The nurse, Leelamma Lal, suffered extensive injuries and faces a long road to recovery.
As she begins the slow process of healing from her injuries, family members and the healthcare community ask how such a brutal attack could happen and call for stronger safety protocols to protect nurses, including increased security measures and de-escalation training.
Cases like these raise more questions about workplace violence in nursing that require answers. How did a man with a firearm gain access to a hospital’s restricted unit? What went wrong the day Lal was assaulted? Why were nurses and other healthcare staff in both cases left vulnerable in environments that should be safe?
Are hospitals doing enough to protect their nurses?
Despite the growing risk, protections for healthcare workers remain inconsistent across the country. Some hospitals have introduced workplace violence prevention plans and programs, while others lag behind. Current security measures include:
- Text alert systems: Some hospitals, such as UPMC Memorial Hospital, have adopted emergency text notifications to warn staff about active threats.
- Metal detectors and security screening: Limited hospitals require security checks at entry points.
- Restricted access zones: High-risk areas like ICUs and ERs sometimes require key card access.
- Panic buttons and duress alarms: Some facilities use wearable alarms, allowing staff to call for help discreetly. Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri, instituted wearable alarms for its staff in 2021 due to a spike in assaults on its employees.
- De-escalation training: Hospitals offer training programs to help nurses manage violent patients and visitors.
However, many nurses argue that these measures are not enough. A lack of hospital security personnel, inadequate enforcement of visitor restrictions, and slow emergency response times leave healthcare workers exposed.
A call for action
Although workplace violence in healthcare remains a crisis, federal efforts to address it have stalled. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (HR 1195) initially passed the House of Representatives but failed to advance in the Senate.
In response, lawmakers reintroduced the bill as HR 2663 in 2023, aiming to require OSHA to mandate workplace violence prevention plans in healthcare settings. If passed, this bill would enforce stricter security measures, mandatory staff training, and clear response protocols to protect nurses and healthcare workers.
Also, HR 2584, the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, was introduced in 2023 to establish federal penalties for assaulting or intimidating hospital personnel. If passed, the bill would impose fines and imprisonment for offenders and provide grants to help hospitals reduce workplace violence.
Several states have enacted legislation to protect healthcare workers and nurses from workplace violence. Here are a few examples:
- California Senate Bill 553 mandates employers to implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention plan covering hazard identification, employee involvement, incident reporting, and training.
- Texas Senate Bill 240 requires healthcare facilities to enforce a written violence prevention policy, establish a prevention committee, provide training, and track violent incidents.
- Illinois House Bill 3435 (pending) proposes that healthcare providers create violence prevention programs, investigate incidents, and maintain records.
- New York Senate Bill S4909A (pending) mandates hospitals to establish violence prevention programs and conduct annual safety assessments. A 2010 law, NY Penal Code §120.05 A, classifies assaulting a nurse as second-degree assault, granting them similar protections as police and firefighters.
While these state efforts represent progress, advocates stress that federal reforms are necessary to truly protect nurses and other healthcare professionals.
What you can do to protect yourself
Nurses across the country are asking: How can we protect ourselves? While systemic change is needed, there are steps healthcare workers can take in the meantime:
- Know your hospital’s emergency protocols: Familiarize yourself with your hospital’s active shooter or violent incident plan.
- Report all incidents: Even minor threats or aggressive behavior should be so patterns of violence are investigated and addressed.
- Push for better security measures: Advocate for hospital leadership to implement stronger security policies, such as visitor screening and increased security personnel.
- Stay aware of your surroundings: Always identify exit routes and safe zones in case of an emergency.
- Use available safety tools: If your hospital has panic buttons or duress alarms, make sure you know how to use them.
The tragedies at UPMC Memorial Hospital and HCA Florida Palms West Hospital are stark reminders that nurses are too often left unprotected in their workplaces. Nurses shouldn’t have to accept violence as part of the job. Hospitals and policymakers must do more than acknowledge the problem; they must take meaningful action.
Until that happens, we need to keep sounding the alarm, sharing our stories, and demanding the safety we deserve. Because if we don’t stand up for ourselves, who will?
Resources for support and donations
To support the victims, assist affected staff, or seek help yourself, consider the following resources:
- Pennsylvania Office of Victims Services – Direct donations can be made through pa.gov.
- American Nurses Foundation – Provides mental health resources and financial assistance for nurses impacted by workplace violence. Visit nursingworld.org.
- GoFundMe campaigns for UPMC Victims – Community-led fundraising pages for affected staff and families can be found at GoFundMe.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers healthcare workers free counseling and crisis support. Learn more at nami.org.
- A GoFundMe campaign has been established for Leelamma Lal to support her recovery.
- The Emotional PPE Project – Offers free mental health services to healthcare workers without needing insurance or notification to employers. Access their directory of volunteer therapists at emotionalppe.org.
- The Battle Within – Provides a five-day program to help first responders, medical personnel, and veterans cope with stress and trauma. It also offers up to six free, confidential therapy sessions through the Frontline Therapy Network. More information is available at thebattlewithin.org.
- Therapy Aid Coalition – Connects healthcare professionals with therapists who provide free or low-fee sessions. Search for therapists by zip code and preferred therapy setting at therapyaid.org.
This article was originally published on the Nurse.com blog and is republished here with permission.
