2022 statistics on healthcare workplace violence

Editor's Note

Workplace violence is a current obstacle nurses and healthcare workers face every day, reports December 29 Becker's Hospital Review.  In response, Healthcare communities have urged Congress to pass legislation to diminish any violent threats or attacks on hospital workers.

Statistics on workplace violence against nurses, based on data from 2022 surveys:

• According to data from Press Ganey, more than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022. On average, two nurses were assaulted every hour, which is about 57 assaults per day. The analysis found that the majority of attackers were patients.  

• A National Nurses United survey from early 2022 found that nearly half of nurses reported an increase in workplace violence, which showed a 57 % increase from September 2021, and a 119% increase from March 2021. 

In its end-of-year legislation priorities, the American Nurses Association urged Congress to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which would require Occupational Safety and Health Administration to create and enforce safety standards for healthcare employees. 

The American Hospital Association and other provider groups have also called on Congress to pass the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employee Act, which would criminalize assault or intimidation of hospital workers.