NASW Joints Health Care Coalition to Advocate for Improved Workplace Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In recognition of Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has joined a coalition of 10 health organizations that are declaring that workplace violence in health care is preventable, not inevitable.

The organizations, which include the American Nurses Association and the Children's Hospital Association, is also committed to raising awareness about workplace safety, driving meaningful action to address this issue, and to work collaboratively to build health care environments where every worker and patient is protected and safe.

"We are proud to join this coalition to advocate for measures ensure that the professionals who care for our communities can do so in an environment where their safety is a priority, not an afterthought," NASW CEO Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, said.

More than 193,000 social workers work in health care settings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and workplace safety is an important issue for them and other social workers. NASW, in collaboration with the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany, found that 44 percent of clinical social workers experienced safety issues in their primary workplace. Another 30 percent said their employers are not doing enough to address workplace safety.

NASW is advocating for legislation to improve workplace safety, including the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S. 1232 / H.R. 2531). Social workers have huge public support for such legislation - a survey that NASW did with Ipsos said 84 percent of Americans support federal legislation to provide safety grants for social work agencies.

Joint Statement on Workplace Violence in Health Care

This April, in recognition of Workplace Violence Prevention Month, our organizations are joining together to affirm that workplace violence in healthcare is not inevitable-it is preventable. Health care workers are the foundation of a safe and effective healthcare system, but every day they face an unacceptable reality: the risk of violence on the job. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently shown that health care and social service workers experience workplace violence at higher rates than workers in any other sector, a troubling trend that only continues to persist and intensify. Workplace violence encompasses any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening, disruptive behavior occurring in the workplace. In healthcare settings, it affects nurses, physicians, technicians, pharmacists, support staff, patients, and families alike. These acts of aggression - whether verbal or physical- are entirely unacceptable.

As national organizations representing the full spectrum of health care delivery, including hospital systems, clinicians, patients, and advocates, we stand united in our belief that no one should be harmed while providing or receiving care. Workplace violence erodes the safety and dignity of health care environments, directly contributes to workforce burnout and turnover, and compromises the quality of care for patients. This violence undermines our health care system's ability to provide safe, healing environments for all.

We are committed to raising awareness, driving meaningful action, and working collaboratively across our fields to build healthcare environments where every worker is protected and every patient is safe.

American Nurses Association
Children's Hospital Association
American Academy of Physician Associates
American College of Emergency Physicians
American Psychiatric Association
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Association of American Medical Colleges
National Association of Social Workers
National Rural Health Association
American Hospital Association