Nurses Union Backs Bill for Workplace Violence Prevention in Healthcare

Legislation Reintroduced to Combat Rising Violence Against Healthcare Workers

National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, has announced its endorsement for the reintroduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. This bipartisan bill, brought forward by Representative Joe Courtney (CT-2) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (S-WI), aims to mandate that healthcare and social service employers create and implement comprehensive plans to prevent workplace violence.

The timing of this bill is significant as incidents of violence against nurses and hospital staff continue to rise. Recent attacks have taken place at UPMC Memorial in Pennsylvania, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, and HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital. Many other cases remain unreported or are not adequately addressed by hospital administrations.

"Nurses need federal lawmakers to take swift action to protect us and our patients from preventable violence," stated Nancy Hagans, RN, president of NNU. She emphasized the need for workplace violence prevention plans and addressed staffing issues that contribute to such violence, urging Congress to require these measures.

Healthcare and social service workers face a high risk of workplace injuries due to violence, nearly five times more so than other professions. A February 2024 NNU survey revealed that 81.6% of nurses have encountered workplace violence within the past year, with 45.5% noting an increase in such incidents.

Hagans praised the legislative efforts, stating, "We applaud Representative Courtney and Senator Baldwin for reintroducing this critical legislation that will save so many lives." She highlighted the importance of preventive planning in reducing violence in healthcare settings.

Representative Courtney shared a poignant example, reflecting on the murder of a nurse during a solo home-health visit in Connecticut, underscoring the necessity of legislative action. "Our legislation would put proven tactics into practice in hospitals and health care settings across the country to prevent violence before it happens," he stated, acknowledging the bipartisan support and backing of affected workers.

Senator Baldwin noted the alarming rise in workplace violence against healthcare workers, emphasizing the need for protective measures: "We rely on our health care workers every day to protect our communities, and in turn, we need to protect them from senseless acts of violence." Her introduction of the bill aims to provide essential protections for healthcare professionals.

The proposed act would establish a federal standard for workplace violence prevention, modeled after California's pioneering OSHA standard. Previous versions of this legislation have garnered bipartisan support in past Congress sessions.

Key Aspects of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act:

• Mandates federal OSHA to create a standard requiring comprehensive, workplace-specific violence prevention plans.
• Covers diverse settings, including hospitals, treatment facilities, correctional settings, and home-based care services.
• Imposes a swift timeline for implementation to ensure rapid protection for workers.
• Sets minimum requirements for prevention plans, including unit-specific assessments, staff involvement, training, and record-keeping.

National Nurses United represents over 225,000 members nationwide, with affiliates in various states, advocating for the rights and safety of registered nurses.

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