Healthcare organizations universally include respect and dignity in their core values. Walk through any hospital lobby, and you'll likely see these words prominently displayed on mission statements and value posters. Yet for many institutions, there remains a significant gap between these aspirational statements and the lived experience of staff and patients.
The challenge isn't in writing...
In healthcare environments, personal protective equipment (PPE) is non-negotiable. No responsible clinician would examine a patient with a highly contagious disease without donning the appropriate gloves, gown, mask, or even powered air-purifying respirators when necessary. These physical barriers protect healthcare workers from biological threats that could cause serious harm.
But what about...
When healthcare organizations assess workplace safety risks, their focus typically lands on patient-to-staff violence, environmental hazards, or procedural errors. Yet one of the most pervasive safety threats often goes unaddressed in traditional safety initiatives: lateral violence—the disrespect, hostility, and aggression that occurs between colleagues.
As we observe National Safety Month this...
Most healthcare organizations have meticulously developed protocols for nearly every physical safety concern. There are specific steps to follow for needle sticks, detailed procedures for patient falls, and precise methods for handling hazardous materials. When it comes to verbal abuse, however, many institutions offer little more than general advice to "stay calm" or "be professional."
As we...
In healthcare environments, unpredictability is often the spark that ignites workplace violence. When patients, families, or even staff don't know what to expect—or when responses to similar situations vary dramatically—tension rises and the potential for conflict increases exponentially.
As we observe National Safety Month this June, it's worth exploring how consistency in communication serves...
In healthcare settings, first impressions aren't just about customer service—they're critical safety moments that set the tone for everything that follows. Those initial 10 seconds of contact between a healthcare provider and a patient or visitor can determine whether an interaction proceeds smoothly or escalates into conflict.
As we observe National Safety Month this June, it's worth examining...
When most healthcare organizations discuss safety, the conversation typically revolves around physical hazards—needle sticks, patient falls, medication errors, and other tangible risks that can be counted, measured, and tracked. These physical risks are essential to address, but they represent only part of the safety equation.
The less visible threats—sharp words, emotional attacks, and verbal...
Healthcare environments inherently expose professionals to traumatic experiences—from workplace violence to patient deaths, from ethical dilemmas to system failures. This Mental Health Awareness Month offers an opportunity to recognize that creating psychologically healthy workplaces requires more than preventing harm; it necessitates building recovery-oriented cultures that help staff heal from...
If you’ve worked in a hospital emergency department, you know it’s a pressure cooker. Crowdedrooms. High-stakes decisions. Emotions running high. It’s no surprise that violence is a growingthreat in these environments—and yet, most hospital staff still feel unprepared for an activeshooter event.
That has to change.
Amid the ongoing healthcare staffing crisis, organizations cannot afford to overlook one of the most significant drivers of turnover–– workplace violence. With nearly one in four nurses reporting being physically assaulted at work and many more experiencing verbal abuse, healthcare organizations face a direct connection between workplace safety and staff retention.
