Joint Statement on Workplace Violence and Protecting Those Who Care

Washington, DC – On National Patient Safety Day and National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, the American Nurses Association (ANA), Association of American Medical Colleges, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Children’s Hospital Association, Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, National Association of Social Workers, National Health Council, and the National Rural Health Association reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of the health care workforce and the patients they serve. Today’s Capitol Hill briefing, Protecting Those Who Care: Addressing Violence Against Healthcare Workers, highlighted the epidemic of violence confronting health care workers and its deleterious effects on the workforce, patients and the health care system as a whole.

Every day, health care workers face an unacceptable reality: the all too frequent incidents of violence in health care settings disrupt patient care and result in injuries or death. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently shown that health care and social service workers experience workplace violence at higher rates than workers in any other sector, a troubling trend that persists despite national attention and numerous efforts to mitigate risk and protect health care workers.

As national organizations representing the ecosystem of health care delivery, including hospitals and health systems, clinicians, social workers, patients, and other advocates, we stand united in our belief that no one should be harmed while providing or receiving care. Workplace violence, including physical assaults, threats, intimidation, and harassment, erodes the safety and dignity of health care workers, directly contributes to staff burnout and turnover, and staffing shortages, and compromises the quality of care and patient safety. This violence undermines providers’ ability to ensure safe, healing environments for all. 

Our organizations support efforts that prioritize prevention, promote effective workplace safety practices, and reinforce the shared responsibility of health care leaders and the workforce to foster a culture of safety. This includes investing in evidence-based approaches, strengthening systems to prevent and respond to violence, and fostering reporting. A safe and supported health care workforce is essential to delivering safe, high-quality patient care.

American Nurses Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
American College of Emergency Physicians
American Hospital Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Children's Hospital Association
Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation
National Association of Social Workers
National Health Council
National Rural Health Association