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Understand and Act: Workplace Violence in Healthcare

Jun 01, 2026

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Workplace violence continues to pose a serious safety risk to healthcare professionals and patients. Unfortunately, nurses and other healthcare team members encounter verbal threats, intimidation and physical violence in settings intended to provide healing and care, making prevention and response efforts a pressing challenge across the industry.

As a strong advocate for healthy work environments, AACN believes physical and psychological safety are essential for nurses and all healthcare professionals. Creating and sustaining healthy work environments requires proactive strategies to minimize the risk of workplace violence and the impact on those affected. To support these efforts, AACN offers a variety of resources to help you advocate for workplace violence prevention in healthcare settings. We encourage you to explore these resources and share them with colleagues and leaders as part of your organization’s commitment to safety and well-being.

Advocacy: Taking Action

AACN advocates for workplace violence prevention and offers resources to combat it.

Eliminating Workplace Violence

Discover AACN’s advocacy activities related to workplace violence.

AACN Position Statement on Preventing Violence

AACN calls for evidence-based policies on internal and external violence, backed by actionable resources for clinicians.

AACN Position Statement on Bullying, Incivility and Verbal Abuse

AACN calls for organizations and individuals to prevent and eliminate abusive and disrespectful behaviors in the workplace.

AACN Healthy Work Environment Standards

The Healthy Work Environment Standards provide a framework through which workplace violence prevention can be addressed.

Firsthand Perspectives

Hear directly from nurses about workplace violence and their recommendations to prevent and address it.

Support After Workplace Violence (Blog)

Discover how E-SAVE provides real-time support for healthcare workers who experience violence.

Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare (Blog)

Understand the scope of workplace violence and what must change to protect healthcare workers.

A Nurse’s Call to Action (Blog)

Explore a nurse’s personal experience and practical advice for preventing violence.

In Our Journals

Articles in AACN’s peer-reviewed journals offer perspectives on and approaches to workplace violence.

Navigating Behavioral Health Challenges in Critical Care (ACC)

Learn from symposium authors who address behavioral health concerns, emphasizing safety and respect for patients and staff.

Workplace Violence: An Uncomfortable, Yet Important Topic (CCN)

Explore how workplace violence in acute and critical care threatens nurse safety and can negatively affect the quality of patient care.

Addressing Workplace Violence in Critical Care (CCN)

Gain insight into comprehensive training and support for frontline nurses to advocate for safety measures.

Everyday Advocacy: How Critical Care Nurses Can Lead Change (CCN)

Learn how critical care nurses can meaningfully advocate for patients through practical actions in their daily practice.

Violence in the Workplace: Preparedness, Prevention, Response and Recovery (CCN)

Review workplace violence interventions for acute and critical care nurses.

Insights From the Front Lines

Nurses share their experiences with workplace violence and their actions and advocacy.

The Fight Against Workplace Violence (Nurse story)

Find out how one ICU team is working to prevent violence before it escalates.

Silent No More (Nurse story)

You are not alone: An ED nurse shares her experience with workplace violence and why nurses must speak up and seek support.

Stand Up to Violence (CSI project)

Discover how a nurse-led CSI Academy team improved workplace violence reporting and staff confidence.

Recorded Presentations

These recordings from live sessions address workplace violence prevention and response strategies.

Promoting Staff Safety: A Mitigation Strategy (NTI session)

Learn how nurses used the DASA screening tool to identify patients at risk for violence and implement early interventions.

Steps to Protect Nurses from Violence (NTI session)

See how one unit improved nurse safety through alarms, policy changes and initiatives that led to hospitalwide change.

Confronting Bullying and Incivility (Podcast)

Listen to a podcast sharing practical strategies to address harmful behaviors, strengthen accountability and build respectful teams.