Should hospitals offer sanctuary for healing, or a platform for chaos and aggression?

The answer seems obvious, yet the rising tide of shocking violence against healthcare workers tells a different story.

Nurses have long been caught in the crossfire of larger political, societal, and cultural forces. The roots of violence in nursing are far from new. They run deep into the complex history of nursing itself, intertwined with issues like religion, gender roles, exploitation, and racism—an intricate web difficult to dismantle.

As an ongoing public health emergency, it’s time to unpack violence against nurses and call for action from healthcare administrators and legislators.  

The rising tide

In recent years, workplace violence in healthcare has escalated to alarming levels. Hospitals have become one of the most dangerous workplaces in the United States, with healthcare workers facing significantly higher rates of violence compared to other high-risk professions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in any other industry.

Nurses are particularly vulnerable, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults, often coming from patients or visitors. A 2016 GAO study reported that 70% of nonfatal workplace assaults in 2016 occurred in the health care and social assistance sectors.

Here are just a few key examples of the shocking violence directed toward healthcare staff members.

2022: Tulsa, Oklahoma

In 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a surgeon was tragically targeted by a disgruntled patient at a Tulsa medical office. The patient, angry over continued post-surgical pain, shot the surgeon in the hospital.

2022: Dallas, Texas

In 2022, Dallas, Texas, a father fatally shot two workers while at the hospital for his child’s birth, accusing his girlfriend of infidelity.

2023: Portland, Oregon

In 2023, in Portland, Oregon, a maternity ward shooting at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center occurred when an armed individual entered the hospital and opened fire. Several staff members were injured, and a hospital security guard was killed.

2024: Boise, Idaho

In 2024, in Boise, Idaho, a white supremacist Idaho prison gang member escaped and staged an attack at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in an attempt to free another inmate. Multiple staff members were injured.

2025: York, Pennsylvania

In February this year, in York, Pennsylvania, an armed man entered UPMC Memorial Hospital and took several staff members hostage. Ultimately, multiple staff members were injured, and a police officer died from the incident.

2025: Royal Palm Beach, Florida

In March this year, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, a nurse at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital was brutally beaten by a patient, suffering fractures to nearly every bone in her face. The 67-year-old nurse remained hospitalized for weeks, facing the risk of blindness due to the attack.

The perfect storm

Violence against healthcare workers isn’t new, but the situation has worsened in recent years due to a perfect storm of compounding factors:

• Lateral violence within nursing. Workplace bullying, incivility, and hierarchical pressures contribute to a toxic work environment where stress and aggression can escalate.
  
• Staffing shortages. Fewer nurses are being asked to do more with less, leading to burnout, exhaustion, and reduced ability to de-escalate volatile situations.
  
• Record-high patient acuity. Patients are sicker than ever, with complex medical conditions that require intensive care, further straining already overburdened nurses.
  
• Public frustration over the healthcare system. Long wait times, insurance denials, the rising cost of care, and lack of care access fuel anger, which is often misdirected at frontline workers.

At the same time, many facilities lack protective measures:

• Minimal hospital security and worker protections. Many healthcare settings still have inadequate security personnel, leaving staff vulnerable to violence.
  
• A culture that downplays reporting. Incidents of violence are often underreported due to fear of retaliation, normalization of aggression, or a belief that nothing will change.
  
• Insufficient public policy and legislation. While some states have introduced laws addressing violence against healthcare workers, enforcement remains inconsistent, and many hospitals fail to implement meaningful safety protocols
• Blaming nurses. Nurses often face blame for the attacks they endure. Nurses can be met with probing questions from administrators, such as, “What could you have done to prevent this?” Or they are assigned a de-escalation training. While debriefs and trainings are part of change, shifting the blame to the nurses is inappropriate when they are the victims of violence.

Together, these factors create an environment where violence is nearly inevitable. Addressing this crisis requires a systemic overhaul, with stronger protections, policy changes, and a shift in how society values and safeguards healthcare workers.

Get involved now

The rise in violence against healthcare workers requires urgent action from hospital administrators, legislators, and the public. As a nurse, here’s how you can help:

• Support legislation. Call your local representative to express support for pending legislation that protects healthcare workers. For example, H.R.2663 - Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
  
• Advocate for security upgrades. Advocate for security upgrades in hospitals, including controlled access points, on-site security personnel, and staff training to handle violent situations. Send an email or a petition to your hospital administration asking for an audit of security measures that prioritize staff safety.
  
• Raise public awareness. Talk to your friends and family about your concerns over healthcare workers' safety. Share this article with your thoughts on your social media profiles.
  
• Be part of a culture shift. Foster a culture where healthcare workers are not expected to accept abuse as part of the job. Training and open dialogue are key to creating safer workplaces. Talk to your coworkers about your concerns, and ask your hospital administration for a comprehensive evaluation of the culture of your workplace safety.

The bottom line

The issue of violence against healthcare workers isn’t just about individual incidents. This is a public health emergency caused by a systemic failure that affects the entire healthcare industry.

Healthcare workers, including nurses, are often caught in societal frustrations, with little support or protection. To create sustainable change, we must address the root causes, such as staffing shortages, mental health, cultural attitudes, and inadequate hospital security.

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