As an trauma ICU nurse, Venessa Thompson is used to navigating
In 2022, when a patient became violent and lashed out at staff in the ICU, Thompson realized as she moved quickly to help just how insufficient the
"It wasn't my patient, but in nursing, it's often everyone's patient," says Thompson. "Getting help [involved] just screaming out, and then whoever was close by came in. But if you're a nurse alone in the room, yes, there may be a panic button, but are you within reach? And in the ICU where sometimes emotions run high, we have more of these situations."
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Thompson's experience is far from unique. In 2023, eight out of 10 nurses experienced at least one type of violence in the workplace and nearly half said they have seen a recent increase in these incidents, according to a report from National Nurses United. Their findings showed that the three most common types of violence reported were verbal threats (67.8%), physical threats (38.7%) and being pinched or scratched (37.3%).
While some of these incidents happen with non-patients, such as family members or other people in the facility, the majority of workplace violence issues occur with patient interactions. Healthcare experience company Press Ganey found that in just one quarter of 2022, more than 5,000 assaults on nurses were reported. You can't fault the patients, says Thompson, who is the mother of four young children, but this is the reality of what healthcare professionals are dealing with on a daily basis.
"A few years ago, my spouse said, 'Just remember, you have a family to come home to,"' she says. "It was a powerful statement because while you always think about your family, it put into perspective that I could end up in a situation where I don't make it home."
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Aside from working closely with patients and others who sometimes pose a risk, a hospital's setting — open at all hours, limited security, exposed workstations — can leave employees feeling unprotected. Thompson recalls a particular night around 2:00 a.m. when two people exited the elevator onto her unit without visitor tags or notice from the lobby desk. Again, her husband's words filled her mind as she noted just how vulnerable she and her coworkers were in times like this, and how something like a quick phone call from the downstairs security desk could have mitigated discomfort and fear.
A focus on creating more efficient safety protocols and support for healthcare professionals should be priority number one for leadership, says Rishabh Parmar, head of strategy and operations at healthcare job platform Vivian Health. According to a recent
"It's a scary, shocking situation," says Parmar. "Nurses are fundamental to patient care, and there's an opportunity for us to do much better at making sure protocols are implemented and violence is dramatically minimized. Advocating for nurses and making sure these things are addressed has to be job number one from a hospital standpoint."
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A retention challenge
The threat of violence is just one of many issues facing nurses, and the result is a large exodus of professionals from the industry. Vivian's report found that 42% of healthcare workers want to leave the profession entirely, and a 2023 survey of nurses by AMN Healthcare revealed that the majority who were planning to leave their positions worked in a hospital setting. Respondents' reasons for retiring early or finding a new profession included employer-related issues, career dissatisfaction, lack of well-being and staff shortages.
Regardless of the type of concern, a strong employer/employee relationship that encourages open communication is the foundation of making healthcare professionals feel safe and avoiding attrition, says Thompson, noting that she has seen a major increase in the amount of nurses looking to find different career avenues, due to being burned out or disenchanted with their current situation.
