Healthcare employees feeling unsafe prompted by workplace conditions lead to high turnover rates, revealed in a study by Verkada
The Verkada Healthcare Worker Safety Report, conducted by The Harris Poll, has shed light on a pressing issue in the healthcare industry: the high prevalence of violence and harassment faced by healthcare workers, and the impact it has on both the workforce and the healthcare system as a whole.
**Prevalence of Violence and Harassment**
The report reveals that nearly 3 million healthcare professionals begin each shift with concerns about conflict, with 21% worrying about verbal harassment from patients most or every time they go to work. Shockingly, 79% of healthcare workers have experienced or witnessed aggressive behavior or threats from patients, and 61% from non-patients.
Furthermore, 53% have heard coworkers express safety concerns, and more than half have felt threatened by patients or their families. Women consistently report higher exposure to workplace violence than men, with 88% of women reporting experiencing or witnessing verbal harassment (vs. 80% men), and 48% reporting experiencing or witnessing physical assault (vs. 34% men). Nurses are more than twice as likely to be physically assaulted as physicians.
**Safety Concerns and Workplace Impact**
These concerns are not just theoretical. Nearly 60% of healthcare workers worry about safety in the workplace, with these concerns directly influencing turnover. Between 38% and 50% of healthcare professionals have considered quitting due to safety concerns, and nearly half are likely to leave their jobs—much higher for nurses.
Safety concerns are not just a retention issue. Workplace violence drives upwards of $18 billion in costs for the healthcare system annually.
**Adequacy of Security Measures**
The report also found that 41% of healthcare workers say their workplace has minimal security, and 77% report their employer has not increased security measures in the past 12 months. Only 40% of hospitals require visitor ID checks.
Healthcare workers overwhelmingly support more robust security. Preferred safety measures include on-site security guards (63%), weapon detection technology (49%), panic buttons (48%), controlled entry (45%), and video security monitoring (42%).
**Recommendations from the Report**
The report makes several recommendations to address these issues. It suggests that healthcare organizations must urgently upgrade security systems to address the clear and present danger faced by staff. On-site security guards, weapon detection technology, panic buttons, controlled entry, and video monitoring are all seen as effective by frontline workers.
The report also recommends prioritizing high-risk groups such as women, nurses, and younger workers, who experience more violence and harassment. Enforcing visitor management, increasing the use of ID checks and access control, and continuously reassessing and updating safety protocols are also suggested.
In conclusion, the Verkada report highlights a crisis in healthcare worker safety. It makes a strong case for immediate, evidence-based upgrades to security and procedural protections in the industry. The continued wellbeing and retention of healthcare workers, as well as the financial stability of the healthcare system, depend on it.
Science should investigate the effectiveness of implementing recommended safety measures, such as on-site security guards, weapon detection technology, panic buttons, controlled entry, and video security monitoring, in reducing workplace violence and harassment in the healthcare industry, thereby promoting workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, and mental health among healthcare workers.
To improve mental health and reduce stress levels among healthcare workers, it's crucial for health-and-wellness programs to address the impact of workplace violence and harassment, and to provide resources for addressing these issues, including support groups, fitness-and-exercise programs, and counseling services.
