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Legislative bills

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Protect Nurses and Health Care Workers from Workplace Violence

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the nation celebrates National Nurses Week, a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting nurses and health care workers from workplace violence has officially been introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Tammy Baldwin. The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which has already passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, seeks to curb rising rates of on-the-job assaults against nurses and others by requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act has been introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Tammy Baldwin, seeking to protect nurses and health care workers from workplace violence.
  • The bill requires health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to prevent and protect employees from violent incidents.
  • The bill has already passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, with a margin of 254-166 in April 2021.
  • Incidents of violence against health care and social service workers are on the rise, with a 2016 GAO study reporting rates of violence against health care workers up to 12 times higher than the overall workforce.
  • A 2020 survey of registered nurses found that 20% reported increased workplace violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The bill has drawn endorsements from health care and social service professionals, unions representing workers, and organizations including National Nurses United, American College of Emergency Physicians, and AFL-CIO.

Statistics:

  • 70% of nonfatal workplace assaults in 2016 occurred in the health care and social assistance sectors (GAO, 2016).
  • A 2020 survey of registered nurses found that 20% reported increased workplace violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The bill has received bipartisan support, with 35 cosponsoring Senators, including 26 Democrats and 9 Republicans.
  • Since its introduction in 2013, the bill has received support from various organizations, including National Nurses United, American College of Emergency Physicians, and AFL-CIO.

Sources:

  • GAO. (2016). Healthcare Workplace Violence: Trends in Incidents and OSHA's Response.
  • National Nurses United. (2020). RN Survey Finds Increased Workplace Violence During COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • House of Representatives. (2021, April 21). H.R. 1195 - Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
  • Senate of the United States. (2023). S. 4182 - Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

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