Workplace violence: A call for action

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is a serious threat to the nursing workforce. WPV results in decrease morale, job dissatisfaction, and increase nurse turnover and intentions to leave the profession. WPV has been associated with decrease in the quality of care rendered and could negatively affect patient safety. Given the direct and indirect financial consequences of WPV, it is critical that nursing leaders take actions to reduce WPV by establishing violence prevention programs. Nursing leaders should also reach out to the public, their professional health organization, and the scientific community to provide education and craft regulation to reduce this threat on the nursing workforce and change the perception that violence is part of the job.