How can healthcare organizations make sure that staff feel safe at work? Staff recruitment and retention are still major challenges for the industry. In recent years, this question has driven design discussions.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that violent attacks on medical professionals increased by 63 percent between 2011 and 2018. Hospital safety directors also said that aggression towards staff increased as the COVID-19 epidemic intensified in 2020.
In a survey conducted by National Nurses United in 2022, the largest union of registered nurse, 48 percent (more than twice as many) of the over 2,000 nurses who responded reported an increase of workplace violence.
Safety concerns were largely limited to behavioral health units. In recent years, mental health and violence have increased in the general public. Therefore, hospitals and clinics must now take stronger safety measures, such as enhanced exam room designs, and increase visibility.
