5 Fast Facts about Workplace Violence in Pennsylvania Health Care

May 01, 2025

By Cameron Brown, HAP policy analyst

Health care workers, including nurses, physicians, and support staff, face increasing risks of workplace violence that impact both their safety and patient care. Such incidents have intensified calls for enhanced safety measures and legislative action.

Here are five important things to know about workplace violence in Pennsylvania’s health care spaces:

1. Health care workers face higher risks of workplace violence

Health care workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than employees in other industries. It is common enough that a 2024 survey found that 81.6 percent of nurses reported experiencing at least one type of workplace violence in the past year. These incidents range from verbal threats to physical assaults, affecting staff morale, productivity, and retention.

2. Pennsylvania hospitals are implementing prevention strategies

Existing federal requirements enforced by OSHA, participation requirements from CMS, and accreditation standards from The Joint Commission provide a rigorous roadmap for hospitals to effectively address the logistical and managerial complexities of workplace violence. As a key part of the accreditation process, hospitals must have a workplace violence prevention plan in place and educate all staff on the application of that plan.

Hospitals are following through: according to a November 2024-January 2025 HAP survey, Pennsylvania hospitals are taking critical and proactive measures to protect their staff:

• 100 percent of hospitals provide staff education on safety protocols.
• 99 percent promote respectful behavior through workplace initiatives.
• 96 percent offer de-escalation training to staff.
• 95 percent have enhanced security measures.
• 81 percent post no-tolerance notices for violence.
• 63 percent use weapons detection measures.

3. Certain health care settings face higher risks

Workplace violence is not evenly distributed across all health care settings. Emergency departments, psychiatric units, and long-term care facilities often experience disproportionately higher rates of violence due to factors like high-stress environments, patient behavioral issues, and staffing shortages. Understanding these high-risk areas is crucial for targeted interventions and resource allocation.

4. Mental health impacts are significant

Workplace violence contributes to increased anxiety, depression, and staff turnover among health care workers. The psychological toll of workplace violence on health care workers is profound. Exposure to such incidents has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and even post-traumatic stress disorder among nurses and other medical staff. A recent Journal of Emergency Nursing study highlighted that workplace violence impairs nurses' mental health, leading to distress and burnout, adversely affecting patient safety and the overall quality of care.

5. Underreporting remains a significant challenge

Despite the high prevalence of workplace violence, many incidents go unreported. This underreporting hampers the ability to fully understand the scope of the problem and implement effective prevention strategies. Contributing factors include time constraints, a perception that violence is simply “part of the job,” and frustration with the limited capacity or inconsistent response of the criminal justice system. Hospitals are working to deliver the changes required to ensure all incidents are addressed responsibly and reported effectively—but lasting progress will require strong partnership with stakeholders such as law enforcement and lawmakers to improve prevention, response, and accountability.

The bottom line: Workplace violence in health care settings is a pressing issue in Pennsylvania. Hospitals are actively implementing prevention strategies, and advocating for legislative efforts to provide further protection, such as federal legislation to boost protections for hospital workers and a proposed state grant program to build upon hospital safety efforts. Continued collaboration among health care providers, policymakers, and the community is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of health care workers, so they can continue to deliver life-saving care for us all.

For more information and resources on workplace violence prevention in Pennsylvania health care, visit HAP’s workplace violence fact sheet.