Health care workers are at high risk of facing violent assaults in the workplace. Since nurses and aides typically have the most regular contact with patients, they represent the group of health care workers at the highest risk for workplace violence. However, there are other likely victims such as emergency response personnel, hospital safety offers and all health care providers such as physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists and social workers.
Physical attacks involving punching, hair-pulling, kicking and stabbing often are the result of patients and, sometimes, their family members becoming out of control or feeling frustrated over the circumstances. Violence usually occurs when health care workers have increased interaction with patients in situations such as mealtime, during visiting hours and transporting patients.
