Workplace violence & hospitals: a guide to strategic security investment

The pandemic pushed already-strained healthcare resources to their breaking point, leading to a sharp uptick in incidents of violence. In fact, 48% of nurses reported an increase in workplace violence in a 2022 survey. Now, hospitals are employing new tactics to confront the problem.

Axon has partnered with security leaders to provide a comprehensive playbook for preventing and addressing violent incidents in the workplace, as well as an overview of the financial and operational considerations of security strategy.

Key topics include:

• Workplace violence is on the rise. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to be victims of workplace violence than other workers in the US.

• Inaction has financial ramifications. Workplace violence is a primary factor in workers fleeing the industry. Each percentage increase in RN turnover rates can cost a facility $270,800 per year — or save it if staff choose to stay.

• Reactionary solutions are ineffective. Security leaders stress that technology prevents violence in healthcare, as TASERs successfully de-escalate 80% of situations without the need for force. Responding even the moment an incident occurs is already too late.