Brian Uridge

Violence is one of the most significant occupational hazards facing health care workers today. According to OSHA, 75% of all workplace violence occurs in health care settings. In 2023, National Nurses United reported that 81.6% of nurses experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past year, and nearly six in ten said these incidents led them to consider leaving their job, their profession, or to actually make a career change. These alarming statistics highlight not only the frequency of violence in health care but also its direct impact on workforce stability, morale, and patient care.

To address this crisis, organizations must adopt a system-wide strategy that treats every health care facility as a community, with each floor functioning as a unique neighborhood with its own dynamics. Building trust, transparency, and continuous training into daily operations is essential to reducing fear, fostering collaboration, and creating a safer environment of care. A community-policing–based model—focused on proactive engagement, nontraditional staff interactions, professionalism, targeted training, and robust critical incident response—provides the framework for a resilient security program. This approach not only reduces risk and anxiety but also strengthens retention and reinforces a culture of safety for staff, patients, and visitors alike.