New Data Reveals the Hidden Costs of Workplace Violence in Healthcare

Workplace violence has become an impossible-to-ignore crisis in healthcare, threatening the safety of medical professionals, patients, and institutions. The severity and frequency of these incidents have reached alarming levels, demanding immediate attention and action.

Recent events paint a disturbing picture. The American College of Surgeons raised the alarm in October 2024 about escalating violence against medical professionals across all specialties. This growing threat affects everyone from surgeons to support staff, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities throughout the healthcare system.

The human cost is staggering. In January 2025, a nurse in Moore County, North Carolina, endured a violent patient attack, while in November 2024, psychiatric crisis therapist Sandra Gatlin sustained life-altering injuries — including fractures to her skull and spine — during a patient assault at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Illinois. 

The impact extends far beyond these headline-grabbing incidents. Healthcare organizations face mounting financial pressures from security costs, workers' compensation claims, and high turnover rates as burnout intensifies among staff. While the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, the roots of healthcare workplace violence run deeper, reflecting long-standing systemic issues.

Addressing this crisis requires a comprehensive approach. While physical security measures are essential, true reform must also tackle underlying systemic factors and provide robust mental health support for healthcare workers. The safety and well-being of those who dedicate their lives to healing others can no longer be compromised.

Healthcare Workplace Violence on the Rise

Healthcare workplace violence is not an overnight problem. During the 2010s, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 12% of injuries sustained by registered nurses came from violent acts. This baseline saw dramatic increases during the pandemic, with hospital assault rates spiking 23% in 2020 according to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS). The situation deteriorated further in 2021, with the National Nurses United survey reporting an additional 48% increase in workplace violence.

Perceptyx's own 2022 healthcare research revealed the scope of this crisis, with more than nine out of 10 workers reporting exposure to violence from patients or caregivers within a one-month period. Three in four encountered both verbal and physical assaults, and nearly half needed to call for security or another coworker for assistance. This has terrible long and short-term effects on healthcare workers: a study from the University of British Columbia found that nurses exposed to workplace violence were 2x to 4x more likely to report high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and burnout.

Now, our most recent Healthcare Panel from the Center for Workforce Transformation shows this crisis continues to affect healthcare workers at alarming rates. Over 16% of the nearly 1,500 healthcare workers surveyed reported feeling unsafe with patients or caregivers in the past month of the survey period, with direct care workers being 3x more likely to feel unsafe than their non-direct care colleagues. These safety concerns are driving a cascade of workforce challenges that threaten both individual well-being and organizational stability.

The Mounting Crisis in Healthcare Settings

While our research confirms the widespread nature of safety concerns in healthcare, a deeper analysis reveals significant variations across different healthcare environments and roles. This granular view helps us understand where intervention is most urgently needed.

Safety perceptions vary markedly by healthcare setting. When asked if "employee safety is a high priority in my department," the responses revealed significant differences across care environments:

• Home health settings reported the highest totals, with 80% agreeing
• Hospitals followed with 76% of employees agreeing
• Skilled Nursing/Long-term care facilities showed lower agreement at 69%
• Hospice settings reported the lowest agreement at 54%

Additionally, direct patient care staff are less favorable to this item than their colleagues who don't care for patients directly, indicating important differences in the employee experience by job type when it comes to safety. This suggests that despite organizational efforts to prioritize safety, front-line healthcare workers — those most at risk for violent incidents — still feel less protected than their colleagues.

The Reality of Workplace Violence for Those in Direct Patient Care Roles

While only approximately 16% of respondents reported feeling unsafe in the presence of a patient or their caregiver in the past month, certain groups or specialties — particularly those engaged in direct patient care or frequent patient interactions — may face a disproportionate level of risk.

​​Nursing and medical assistants, along with nurses, represent nearly half of all respondents who reported feeling unsafe in the presence of a patient or caregiver. Among those who reported feeling unsafe, 23% were medical and nursing assistants and 21% were nurses, highlighting the elevated risks faced by these frontline caregiving roles.

Home health aides, at 17%, also reported notable levels of unease, reflecting the challenges of working in patient homes and less controlled environments. These concerning statistics are further compounded by the types of violence experienced by healthcare workers who reported feeling unsafe, revealing the severity and variety of threats they face in their day-to-day roles.

The types of violence reported by those direct patient care healthcare workers who indicated feeling unsafe in the last month paint a troubling picture:

• 42% face verbal threats or attacks,
• 33% encounter physical threats, and
• 31% experience physical attacks.

These statistics aren't just numbers — they represent real healthcare workers facing real dangers while trying to care for patients. The implications of these data are profound, highlighting the critical need for systemic interventions to address workplace violence in healthcare settings. With nearly one-third of those who feel unsafe reporting experiences of physical attacks and over 40% facing verbal threats or attacks, it is clear that current safety measures may be insufficient. 

The breakdown of verbal threats, physical threats, and physical attacks by role provides deeper insight into which groups are most affected, highlighting the frontline nature of these challenges and the varying levels of risk across different healthcare positions. 

Nurses and medical/nursing assistants bear the brunt of workplace violence in healthcare, according to our recent panel survey. Within just one month, 29% of nurses and 21% of medical/nursing assistants reported verbal threats, while an alarming 28% of both groups experienced physical attacks.

These statistics reflect the heightened risks faced by frontline staff, whose constant close contact with patients and caregivers increases their exposure to aggressive behavior. Home health aides face their own distinct challenges, with 14% reporting physical attacks while working in less controlled environments like patient homes, highlighting the vulnerability of providing care in non-clinical settings.

While administrators, pharmacists, and technicians report fewer direct incidents due to limited patient contact, the impact of violence reverberates throughout healthcare organizations. Witnessing colleagues endure repeated attacks takes a heavy psychological toll on all staff members, creating an atmosphere of anxiety and hypervigilance. This indirect trauma can lead to decreased job satisfaction, increased stress levels, and a pervasive sense of insecurity that affects the entire healthcare team's ability to provide optimal patient care.

While the percentages of healthcare workers reporting feelings of being unsafe and experiencing verbal or physical harassment may seem modest in a larger statistical context, it is important to recognize that most occupations experience little to no workplace violence. For instance, in many professional and office-based roles, the expectation of encountering verbal or physical threats is essentially nonexistent. This contrast underscores the significance of these findings.

Take Action: Prioritizing Safety and Support

One size does not fit all. These findings emphasize the critical need for targeted safety interventions tailored to the unique risks faced by specific roles. Enhanced de-escalation training and communication skills for direct care workers can help manage confrontational situations, while physical safety measures, such as panic buttons, improved staffing ratios, and increased workplace security, are essential to mitigate risks. 

Support systems, including counseling services and effective reporting mechanisms, must also be implemented to address the psychological and emotional toll that frequent threats and attacks can take on healthcare workers. Together, these strategies can create safer environments for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.

In the broader context, the data signals an alarming deviation from what is considered “normal” workplace safety. For most industries, the baseline expectation is a safe, controlled work environment. The fact that nearly 1 in 6 direct care/interaction healthcare workers reported feeling unsafe in the presence of a patient or caregiver within just the last month highlights the immediacy and frequency of these concerns. This statistic reminds us that workplace violence in healthcare is not a rare or isolated issue but an ongoing and persistent challenge. Addressing these vulnerabilities is critical to aligning healthcare with the safety standards that other professions take for granted. Failure to address these issues not only jeopardizes the well-being of healthcare workers but may also lead to increased burnout, reduced retention, and compromised patient care.

Organizations must take these findings as a call to action, committing to a culture where workplace violence is not tolerated, and safety is paramount. A strong stance against workplace violence should be reflected in clear policies, effective training, and robust support systems designed to protect and empower healthcare workers.

Perceptyx Can Help You Create a Culture of Physical and Psychological Safety

Listening to employees when they express safety concerns is equally critical. Creating open lines of communication, encouraging reporting without fear of retaliation, and responding decisively to concerns will demonstrate a genuine commitment to their well-being. 

By addressing these issues head-on, organizations can foster a safer, more supportive environment for their workforce — an essential step toward improving not only individual well-being but also overall organizational resilience and patient care quality. The time to act is now.

To learn how Perceptyx and our People Insights Platform can help your organization with safety specifically and employee listening more broadly, schedule a meeting with a member of our team.