---
title: Healthcare Workers Victims of Violence at Work - VirtuSense
description: Violence in the healthcare setting seems to be a growing epidemic, to the point that it’s become commonplace.
---

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# [Healthcare Workers Victims of Violence at Work - VirtuSense](https://www.virtusense.ai/blog/2020/11/02/healthcare-workers-victims-of-violence-at-work)

 Written by [Emily Potts](https://www.virtusense.ai/blog/author/emily-potts) | Nov 2, 2020 3:14:55 PM

Unfortunately, violence in the healthcare setting seems to be a growing epidemic, to the point that it’s become commonplace. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines [workplace violence](https://www.ajmc.com/view/violence-against-healthcare-workers-a-rising-epidemic) as, “Incidents where staff are abused, threatened, or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, including commuting to and from work, involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being, or health.” WHO considers both physical and psychological harm, including attacks, verbal abuse, bullying, and both sexual and racial harassment, to be workplace violence.

## Workplace Violence Stats

- Twenty-five percent of nurses reported being physically assaulted by a patient or a patient’s family member, and about half reported being bullied (ANA) 
- Workers in healthcare settings are four times more likely to be victimized than workers in private industry (SIA and IAHSSF) 
- Healthcare workers have a 20% higher chance of being the victim of workplace violence than other workers (National Crime Victimization Survey) 
- Violence-related injuries are four-times more likely to cause healthcare workers to take time off from work than other kinds of injuries (BLS)

## It’s become the norm

The most prevalent form of abuse is perpetrated by patients and their families/friends. In fact, 75% of all workplace assaults happen in healthcare—that’s 18,750 assaults per year! Because it has become part of the job, it often goes unreported. According to *The Joint Commission*, only 30% of nurses and 26% of emergency department physicians have [reported incidents of violence](https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/patient-safety-topics/sentinel-event/sea_59_wpv_infographic_3_30_18_finalpdf.pdf). There is a stigma attached to reporting these incidents, and when they are reported, blame is sometimes shifted to the healthcare worker. De-escalation techniques often backfire, as well. 

CNAs experience the highest rates of violence mainly because they are in more frequent contact with patients/residents and their families, assisting with daily hygiene, feeding, and moving around. This violence is not only traumatic for the victims, it takes a financial toll on organizations in medical treatments and lost productivity if the CNA needs time off to recover or leaves altogether. The [cost of replacing a nurse](https://www.cnaclasses.us/article.aspx?articleid=303335) is $27,000–$103,000.

## What to do about it

Healthcare facilities can reduce workplace violence by following a comprehensive [workplace violence prevention program](https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3826.pdf). An effective program includes five key components: 

- Management commitment and worker participation 
- Worksite analysis and hazard identification 
- Hazard prevention and control 
- Safety and health training 
- Record keeping and program evaluation

You know the old saying, “If  you see something, say something.”  

[View full post](https://www.virtusense.ai/blog/2020/11/02/healthcare-workers-victims-of-violence-at-work)

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