​​​Florida Nurses Association - OPEIU Local 713

​​SHANDS
NURSES
​UNION

Workplace Violence

What’s one of America’s most dangerous jobs? It’s not what you think.

For years, nurses lobbying for safer work places have been kicked, punched, pinched and even stabbed at work on a regular basis. This is such an important issue. We must join together in order to prevent workplace violence in healthcare settings.

​Below are ten ​actions a nurse should take if assaulted at work.
.

Ten Actions a Nurse Should Take If Assaulted at Work

1. Get help. Get to a safe area.

2. Get relieved of your assignment. Notify your charge nurse, nurse manager and/or nursing coordinator (at night and on weekends and holidays).

3. Report the assault to your supervisor (file a PSR) and the union (file a safe staffing form available on our website).

4. Call hospital Security immediately, use the panic button if your unit has one. You can call the police at 911 if you need to. 

5. Exercise your civil rights, file charges with the police.

6. Get medical attention.

​7. Take photographs of your injuries.

8. Get counseling or assistance from UF Health Occupational Health  Services (OHS) to address concerns related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

 9.Get copies of all reports and keep diary of events.

10. Return to work only when you feel safe and supported.